Tragedy has struck the Ahoro-Esinele community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State following the killing of one of the abducted teachers of Community High School in the village, identified as Michael Oyedokun.
Oyedokun was reportedly beheaded by bandits in a disturbing viral video allegedly released by the kidnappers on Sunday.
The video, which surfaced on Telegram on Monday, showed the teacher tied up and forced to speak before he was gruesomely killed.
The incident has sparked fresh outrage and heightened fears over the safety of the remaining victims still being held captive by the gunmen.
Residents of the community, relatives of the abducted victims, and concerned indigenes have continued to appeal to security agencies and the Oyo State Government to intensify rescue efforts to prevent further loss of lives.
Confirming the killing, the Special Adviser on Media to Governor Seyi Makinde, Dr. Suleimon Olanrewaju, said the governor sympathised with the family of the deceased teacher and reassured the public that the government was deploying both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to secure the release of the remaining abductees.
Olanrewaju also disclosed that security personnel injured during rescue operations were responding positively to treatment, adding that the state government would bear the cost of their medical care.
Appealing for calm and patience, he said efforts were ongoing to reunite the victims with their families.
“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 stated.
“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 further revealed that security agencies had made some arrests in connection with the abduction.
“Well, from the information available from the Commissioner of Police, about six individuals have been arrested within the locality,” he said.
“Some of them, we believe, are perhaps informants or people running logistics for the terrorists.
“Also, three individuals of interest have been arrested by another security outfit within the state.”
LEADERSHIP reports that armed men invaded the school on Friday, May 15, abducting the principal, several teachers, and some students.
The attack came barely weeks after a failed kidnap attempt along the Ibadan-Ijebu Road, which reportedly left one traveller dead, further intensifying concerns over growing insecurity in parts of Oyo State and across the country.
