The family of slain Oyo schoolteacher, Michael Oyedokun, has urged President Bola Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde to order an urgent search and recovery of his missing remains, after security forces rescued the pupils and teachers abducted from Community High School in the Oriire Local Government Area.
The bereaved family lamented that they could not bury the slain teacher or find closure until his body is recovered.
The family made the appeal in an open letter addressed to the President on Tuesday and jointly signed by members of the Oyedokun family.
While expressing gratitude to the Nigerian government and security agencies for rescuing the surviving pupils and teachers after nearly two months in captivity, the family said the operation remained incomplete because Oyedokun’s body has not been recovered.
According to the letter, the successful rescue of the victims restored hope to many families, but theirs continues to endure “unending pain” due to the inability to bury their loved ones.
“We sincerely thank Your Excellency for the efforts of the Federal Government, the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force, and other security and intelligence agencies whose dedication and sacrifice led to the successful rescue of the kidnapped victims in Oyo State,” the family said.
“The safe return of these victims has restored hope to their families and reaffirmed our confidence in the Government’s commitment to protecting the lives and liberty of its citizens. For this, we are deeply grateful.”
However, they said their grief remains unresolved because Oyedokun, who died while in captivity, has not been returned home for burial.
“Our beloved relative, Mr. Michael Olugbade Oyedokun, tragically lost his life while in captivity. Although the rescue operation was successful, his remains have yet to be recovered and returned to us for a dignified burial in accordance with our faith, traditions, and values,” the grieving family noted.
“The absence of his body has prolonged our grief and denied our family the closure that every human being deserves. We continue to live with the pain of not knowing where he rests, unable to perform the final rites that would honour his memory and bring peace to our hearts.”
The family urged President Tinubu and Governor Makinde to direct the relevant security agencies to intensify efforts to locate the slain teacher’s remains.
“Your Excellency, we respectfully appeal that you direct the relevant security agencies to intensify efforts to locate and recover the remains of Mr. Michael Olugbade Oyedokun,” the family said.
“We are confident that the same resolve which secured the freedom of the surviving victims can also ensure that his body is returned to his family.”
According to the family, recovering the teacher’s remains would not only enable them to perform his burial rites but also demonstrate that every Nigerian deserves dignity, even in death.
“Recovering his remains is more than a humanitarian act; it is a solemn obligation that reflects the dignity of every Nigerian life. It would demonstrate that no citizen is forgotten, abandoned, or denied dignity, even in death,” the family noted.
“We earnestly hope this appeal will receive your compassionate and urgent consideration, so that we may finally lay our beloved husband, father, brother, and son to rest with the honour and dignity he deserves, and begin the difficult journey toward healing.”
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that the principal of Community High School, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, who was among those rescued after spending 57 days in captivity, revealed that Oyedokun was beheaded by the kidnappers on the second day of their abduction.
Alamu also said that another teacher, Esiyan Adegboye, was shot dead during the initial attack on the school.
4she said that the kidnappers killed the two teachers to pressure the government into meeting their demands.
However, while Adegboye’s body was recovered and buried in Ogbomoso on May 22, Oyedokun’s remains have yet to be located despite the successful rescue of the surviving pupils and teachers.
