Bandits behead abducted Oyo teacher as fear mounts over remaining victims

Residents of Ahoro-Esinele community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have been thrown into mourning following the killing of one of the teachers abducted from Community High School, as fears deepen over the fate of others still held captive by suspected bandits.

Michael Oyedokun, one of the seven teachers kidnapped during the attack on the school, was reportedly beheaded by his abductors in a disturbing video allegedly released on Sunday. The footage, which surfaced on Telegram and was obtained by journalists on Monday, showed the teacher tied up and forced to speak before he was gruesomely killed.

The killing has sparked outrage and renewed anxiety across the state, with families of the victims, residents and community leaders urging security agencies and the Oyo State Government to intensify rescue efforts to prevent further loss of lives.

Confirming the incident on Monday,  Suleimon Olanrewaju, Special Adviser on Media to Governor Seyi Makinde, described the killing as unfortunate and said the governor had extended condolences to the victim’s family.

Olanrewaju said the state government was deploying both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to secure the release of the remaining abductees from the kidnappers’ hideout.

“So, please, there may not be quick fixes, but we will continue to endeavour to push ourselves to the limit to resolve this quickly,” he said.

“What we know right now is that seven teachers in all were abducted. And, unfortunately, we got a video this morning that one of the teachers, I understand, the mathematics teacher, was killed by the terrorists.”

The governor’s aide disclosed that security agencies had already made significant progress in the investigation, leading to the arrest of several suspects linked to the abduction.

According to him, six suspects were arrested within the locality, while another three persons of interest were apprehended by a separate security outfit in the state.

“Well, from the information available from the Commissioner of Police, about six individuals have been arrested within the locality. Some of them, we believe, are perhaps informants or people running logistics for the terrorists,” he added.

He also sympathised with the families of soldiers, operatives of the Amotekun Corps and local vigilantes who lost their lives during rescue operations.

The operatives, he said, were killed after encountering Improvised Explosive Devices planted by the abductors during efforts to track down the victims. He added that injured security personnel were responding positively to treatment and assured that the government would bear the cost of their medical care.

The attack on Community High School occurred on Friday, May 15, when heavily armed gunmen invaded the school premises and abducted the principal, several teachers and students.

The incident came barely weeks after a failed kidnap attempt along the Ibadan-Ijebu road that reportedly left one traveller dead, further heightening concerns over worsening insecurity in parts of Oyo State.

Residents of the affected community have continued to demand stronger security presence in rural areas, warning that repeated attacks by armed groups are creating fear among teachers, students and commuters.

The gruesome killing of Oyedokun has also reignited national conversations about the growing wave of kidnappings targeting schools and rural communities across Nigeria, despite repeated assurances from authorities on efforts to curb insecurity.