OAU: SUG President attributes lion attack on late Olawuyi to ‘human error’ as University community mourns

*Abbas Akinremi, President of the Students’ Union at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, reportedly discloses the incident was not due to any complacent management but to unfortunate human error, as late Olabode Olawuyi, a veterinary technologist and zookeeper, ‘forgot to lock the gate after feeding the lion’

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Management, Staff, students and the entire community of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Nigeria, have been thrown into mourning following the untimely death of Mr. Olabode Olawuyi, a veterinary technologist and zoo keeper in the institution Monday, February 19, 2024.

ConsumerConnect learnt the nine-year-old lion had attacked late Olawuyi while feeding the game.

Late Mr. Olabode Olawuyi, Veterinary Technologist and zoo keeper

Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, Public Relations Officer (PRO) at OAU, in a statement, also affirmed the lion attacked the veterinary technologist, who had been in charge of the University’s Zoological Garden for over a decade, when feeding them in their den Monday in the Zoological Garden.

According to the University’s authorities, other members of staff, who were at the scene of the incident did everything within their power to rescue the late zoo keeper but the wild cat had already caused severe fatalities.

Olarewaju also noted that upon hearing about the sad incident the OAU Management team, led by Prof. Adebayo Bamire, immediately visited the University Health and Medical Centre.

Upon arrival at the Centre, Dr. Tirimisiyu Olatunji, Acting Director of the University Health and Medical Centre, explained to the team that all first aid and medical efforts at saving late Olawuyi’s life after the lion attack were unsuccessful.

Following the unfortunate incident, the aggressive lion has been euthanised, noted the statement.

Olarewaju further stated the Management of the University also, had sent a delegation to the widow and children of the deceased, imploring them to take solace in God who gives life and also has the power to take life.

Human error responsible for lion attack at OAU: SUG President

Commenting on the incident in Ile-Ife, Mr. Abbas Akinremi, President of the Students’ Union at Obafemi Awolowo University, reportedly said the lion attack incident that led to the death of the zookeeper was due to ‘human error’.

Akinremi, however, allayed fear of panic on the University campus.

He stated both students living on campus and off campus, are safe from any attack.

The Students’ Union President also disclosed that the deceased veterinary technologist forgot to lock the gate of the den after feeding the lion, hence the attack.

Akinremi stated: “The incident was not due to any complacent management but to unfortunate human error on the part of the deceased.

“He forgot to lock the gate after feeding the lion. He was a good and humble man, who attended to us nicely whenever we went to the zoo.

“The incident was unfortunate, and we pray to God to give the family the fortitude to bear the loss.

The SUG President added: “Meanwhile, the lion has been killed, and we are not under any apprehension as a result of the incident. The campus is calm, and we are all fine.”

Meanwhile, Prof. Bamire, Vice-Chancellor of OAU, has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the incident, Olarewaju said in the statement.