A lion that was used as a ‘security guard’ has been removed from outside an apartment block opposite a crèche and primary school.
A task force intervened to take the two-year-old lion, named Kiara away from the Lagos property on Friday.
The owner, said to be an Indian expatriate has been urged to turn himself in to police or he could be arrested.
The lion, who was thought to have been brought to the building, 229, Muri Okinola, Victoria Island, two months ago was transported after being tranquilized, to Bogije Omu zoo, Lekki.
Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit workers found the animal after a petition by people who live in the area was sent to the ministry of environment. The school said it was worried about the safety of the children.
Meanwhile, three people have been arrested in connection with the illegal possession of the big cat. In an exclusive chat with Channels Television, Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce on Environment and special offences, Olayinka Egbeyemi, explained that the three retired officers, who double as security officers to the cat owner, said they were aware of the presence of Kiara, the lion within the building since it arrived.
Lions are found in two places in Nigeria, Yankari Game Reserve – where there are about five – and Kainji Lake National Park, where about 30 of the big cats live.
West Africa is home to a total of 400 lions.
