The video has emerged of the moment the lifeless body of the veterinary technologist in charge of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, zoological garden, Mr. Olabode Olawuyi, who was killed on Monday by a lion, was found.
The video which runs for 1 minute, 15 seconds shows the lifeless body of Olawuyi on the ground in the zoo.
Spotting a blue shirt and trousers with a sandal, his body was covered by blood with an indication that the lion attacked him from the head in the mouth area.
He is seen lying on his back.
The video shows three persons suspected to be security staff of the university storming the zoo with guns, wailing, crying upon sighting the lifeless body, and raining curses on the lion.
A man believed to be the head of the team ordered that one of the men with the gun should shoot the lion as they stood outside the cage watching it.
“E yin’bon fun! Mo ni k’e yin’bo fun! E pa danu!” He gave the shooting order in Yoruba.
The sound of the shooting followed.
“Ko ni da fun e (It will not be well with you!)”, one of them cursed the lion again.
The video then showed the lion limping as it ran away in the cage.
Not sure if the first shot hit it, another shot was made and the lion fell.
The man giving the order asked them to keep an eye on the animal.
Recall that the Public Relations Officer of OAU, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju announced the death of Olawuyi on Monday.
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The spokesman said Olawuyi who had been in charge of the garden for over a decade, was attacked in the afternoon by a nine years old male lion when he was feeding them in their den.
He explained that the other members of staff who were at the scene of the incident did everything within their power to rescue their boss but the wild cat had already caused severe fatalities.
“Saddened by this tragic event, the aggressive Lion has been euthanized,” the spokesman said.
FrontPage reports that to euthanize, according Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary means “to kill a sick or injured animal or person by giving them drugs so that they die without pain.”
He said on hearing the sad news, the management team, led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, abruptly ended an on-going meeting for an on the spot assessment.
Olarewaju said upon enquiry, the Vice-Chancellor was informed, on arrival, by the Acting Director of the University Health and Medical Centre Dr. Tirimisiyu Olatunji, that all first aid and medical efforts to save the life of the victim proved abortive.
The spokesman said the university management 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.”
He added that the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, had ordered a comprehensive investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the incident.
The incident, it was said, had thrown the management, staff, students and the entire campus of the university into mourning.
The university prayed for the repose of the soul of Olawuyi.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The video is not loaded along with this story in view of the gory sight it contains. Thank you.
