Residents of Ibadan, Oyo State capital, especially those living around, University of Ibadan (UIAgbowo, Bodija, Sango and environs ran helter-skelter for better part of Saturday night and Sunday morning over rumoured escape of two lions from the Zoological Garden of the University of Ibadan. (UI)
The rumour spread like wildfire that one person was killed by the lions while two workers at the zoo were seriously wounded, following attack by the animals.
Businessmen and women around the Agbowo Shopping Complex, opposite the university main gate and residents of the area were forced to close their shops and houses.
But the institution’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mrs Joke Akinpelu, dismissed the rumour, saying: “My brother, the news is mere rumour. It is a wild rumour. There is nothing like that here. Some people just like causing unnecessary confusion”.
She added that immediately she got the news, efforts were made to contact the Director of the Zoo, who later confirmed to us that the news was false.
She said: “The university has six lions and the six are intact in their cages as I am speaking to you now. No lion escaped and nobody was injured or killed. When we heard the rumour, we quickly sent news item to the state broadcasting television station and it was being relayed.”
“We hereby call on the general public to go about their normal duty without any fear of attack from any imaginary lion. The rumour is not true.”
I dont blame the public o! Who wants to die by a lion..
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