TheCable

The Lagos state environment and special offense task force says the lion cub found in a house at Muri Okunola Street in Victoria Island area of the state has been tranquillised and removed from the building.

Yinka Egbeyemi, chairman of the task force, had earlier said the two-year-old cub, that was being used as a security guard by an Indian, has been taken to a zoo in the Lekki area of the state.

Egbeyemi said the lion cub was removed from the house around 1:30pm and taken to a zoo in Omu Resorts, Lekki.

He said the exercise was carried out in collaboration with officials of the Lagos state ministry of agriculture and medical personnel from the faculty of veterinary medicine, University of Ibadan.

He added that Ogunmo Bamidele, who led the medical team from the university, had to tranquilise the lion thrice before evacuation.

“Immediately I got the petition, I deployed my officers to the house at No. 229, Muri-Okunola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, where they kept a close watch for more than 72 hours before the lion was finally removed today,” Egbeyemi said.

“In as much as we appreciate residents around Victoria Island for their quick action, we urge every member of the public to be observant in their immediate environment and report any strange or unusual activity to appropriate government authority for prompt action.”

He said the owner of the lion cub had also been invited for questioning.

He assured residents that the owner of the lion “will face the full wrath of the law”, warning residents to desist from keeping wild animals that endanger the lives of others.