The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) community was on Monday thrown into mourning after a lion at the school’s zoo killed a veterinary technologist Olabode Olawuyi.

According to the school’s spokesman Abiodun Olarewaju, the victim who has been in charge of the Zoological garden for over a decade was attacked on Monday afternoon when he was feeding the 9 year-old male lion and its mates in their den.

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, Olarewaju said.

On hearing the sad news, the management team led by Vice-Chancellor Adebayo Simeon Bamire abruptly ended an ongoing meeting for an on-the-spot assessment.

Upon arrival, the Acting Director of the University Health and Medical Centre, Dr Tirimisiyu Olatunji informed the VC that all first aid and medical efforts to save the life of the victim proved abortive.