The family of Michael Oyedokun, the schoolteacher abducted and later beheaded by terrorists in Oyo State, has described his death as a devastating and irreplaceable loss.
In a heartbreaking revelation, family members revealed that the teacher slain in the prime of his life died childless, despite being married for more than a decade.
Mr. Oyedokun was abducted alongside several colleagues and pupils of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, during a ruthless terrorist raid on the school premises. Days later, a graphic video surfaced online showing his decapitated head, confirming his gruesome execution by his captors.
Speaking to Sahara Reporters, an emotional relative, Ebeni Adediran, described the late teacher as a beacon of peace and humility.
“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 said Oyedokun’s death has created a huge vacuum within the family because of his character and close relationship with relatives.
“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. 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.”
Meanwhile, the family has appealed to Nigerians to stop circulating the graphic videos and images showing the murdered teacher. The family said the repeated sharing of the disturbing footage was worsening their trauma during an already painful period.
“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.”