The Ogun State Police Command on Sunday confirmed that a 35-year-old zoo worker at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Babaji Daule, was on Saturday killed by a lion.

The spokesman for the state police command, Omolola Odutola, disclosed this in a statement sent to journalists on Sunday.

The Bauchi State-born lion handler was said to have forgotten to secure the locks and barricade the lion’s enclosure before approaching the cage to feed the animal.

This reportedly allowed the lion to escape and attack the handler, resulting in injuries to his neck and eventual death.

The victim’s body was said to have been removed and taken to the mortuary at Ijaye General Hospital, while the wild lion was shot to release its grip on the handler.

Details later…

The elders forum of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers state has apologised to Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), over the rift between him and Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state.

Wike and Fubara have been involved in a political tussle over control of the party’s structure in Rivers state.

The rift between both politicians has created two factions in the Rivers house of assembly — with each camp electing a speaker loyal to the minister and the governor.

Boma Iyaye, executive director of finance at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), apologised to Wike during an event organised by Ijaw people in the state on Saturday.

Iyaye appreciated Wike for making someone of the Ijaw extraction the governor of Rivers state.

“On behalf of our people, we are apologising to you for what our son is doing to you. We are sorry because it is not in our nature to pay evil for good. You have done well for us, and we will continue to say thank you” he said.

“Your Excellency, do not, because of this bad behaviour of our son, run away from us. Continue to be our brother. Continue to have us in mind. We have never set our feet on the number one seat of Rivers state. You made it possible for us to become the governor of Rivers state.”

On his part, Ferdinard Anabraba, chair of the elders forum, criticised Fubara for “lack of political discharge”, adding that the Ijaw community do not support of his actions.

“The aberration we are seeing in the administration of Rivers State is only a demonstration of lack of political discharge of an individual, and by no means the opinion of Ijaw people,” he said.

“We, the Ijaw, see you as the light of Rivers State. You are indeed a notable strategist in Nigeria’s contemporary politics. And without doubt, you are the most celebrated Ijaw politician of national recognition.”

At least five people were confirmed dead, while several others are receiving treatment at the Infectious Disease Centre, Olodo, in Egbeda Local Government Area of Oyo State, following their participation in a ‘Love Feast’ —popularly known as Ipese — organised by a white garment church in Ibadan.

According to reports, the incident, which occurred last Sunday within the church premises in Apata, Ido Local Government Area, has thrown the community into a state of confusion.

A church source, who requested anonymity, revealed that it has yet to be established whether the Ipese meal was responsible for the deaths.

“I ate the same beans that everyone else, including the victims, ate, and nothing happened to me.

“It’s not clear that the incident is related to the Ipese, as some people are claiming. Various government agencies, including the police, DSS, media outlets, and even the World Health Organization, have been here to investigate. Their findings haven’t been made public yet, but I can assure you it’s not about Ipese,” he said.

Confirming the incident, a staff member at the Infectious Disease Centre, who spoke anonymously, stated that 50 of the victims who were rushed to the centre had been treated and discharged.

“Some of the affected people were brought here for treatment. So far, 50 have been discharged, while others are still receiving care,” the official said.

The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident, noting that investigations are ongoing.