The family of Michael Oyedokun, a schoolteacher who was abducted and subsequently beheaded by terrorists during a coordinated assault on schools in Oyo State, has decried his brutal murder as an irreplaceable loss, lamenting that he died childless after more than a decade of marriage.
The family of Michael Oyedokun, the schoolteacher who was abducted and later beheaded by terrorists during a series of coordinated attacks on schools in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, has described his death as a devastating and irreplaceable loss. The late educator was seized alongside several colleagues from Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, during a violent raid on Friday that also targeted Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, and LA Primary School in Ogbomoso. The bloody attacks, which have already claimed the lives of an assistant headmaster, Joel Adesiyan, and an unnamed commercial motorcyclist, prompted the Oyo State Government to order the immediate closure of schools in four local government areas while security forces intensify their rescue operations. Outrage and fear have since mounted following the online circulation of a disturbing video allegedly released by the terrorists, which shows Oyedokun tied up and forced to speak shortly before he was brutally executed.
Speaking on behalf of the bereaved family during a visit to the deceased’s hometown, Ebeni Adediran remembered Oyedokun as a peaceful, humble man who dedicated over two decades of his life to nurturing students. Adediran explained that the deceased’s aged parents have been left in deep mourning, wailing uncontrollably over the sudden vacuum created within their household. Highlighting the tragic background of the late academic, Adediran stated: “The deceased was a calm person and he did not like violence. He went to primary school, later attended Ogbomoso Baptist High School and furthered his education after secondary school. He was employed as a teacher for about 21 years. He first worked at Oke Ogun before he relocated. He was transferred back home last year. He was very accommodating and since he came back to our community, he always visited his parents at least once within 15 days or every weekend.” He further added: “He was a good man in our family and this is why his death is a big loss to us, an irreplaceable loss. His death is painful. We can’t even describe his death.”
One of the most heart-wrenching dimensions of the tragedy is that the slain teacher left no offspring behind to preserve his lineage despite a long-standing marriage. Adediran revealed the family’s deep sorrow over this unfulfilled desire, noting: “And the most painful part is that he did not leave any child behind. He had a wife but they did not have any child. They had been married for more than 10 years and despite all their efforts, no child came out of the marriage. And now the same man has died and there is no child to continue his lineage.” Compounding their grief, the family has released an official statement pleading with the public and social media users to halt the dissemination of the gruesome execution media. In an emotional appeal, the family stated: “We truly appreciate the love, concern, and sympathy shown towards our family during this painful time. However, the continuous circulation of those videos and images is deeply traumatizing for us as a family. His loved ones and all of us, his nieces, nephews, cousins and relatives, have been emotionally devastated, especially as these contents keep appearing on social media.”
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