THE family of Michael Oyedokun, one of the two teachers killed during the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde to ensure his remains are recovered for a proper burial.
In an open letter addressed to the President, the family expressed gratitude to the Federal Government, the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force, and other security agencies for successfully rescuing the abducted pupils and teachers after nearly two months in captivity.
Despite appreciating the rescue operation, the family said their grief remains unresolved because Oyedokun’s body has not been found.
According to the letter, while many families have been reunited with their loved ones, they are still unable to give Oyedokun a dignified burial in line with their faith and traditions.
The family said the inability to recover his remains has prolonged their mourning and denied them the closure that comes with laying a loved one to rest.
They urged President Tinubu to direct the relevant security agencies to intensify efforts to locate and retrieve the late teacher’s body, expressing confidence that the same determination that secured the release of the surviving victims could also lead to the recovery of his remains.
The family described the recovery of Oyedokun’s body as both a humanitarian duty and a demonstration that every Nigerian life deserves dignity, even after death.
They added that bringing him home would allow them to honour his memory and begin the healing process.
Earlier reports revealed that the rescued principal of Community High School, Rachael Alamu, disclosed that Oyedokun was killed by the kidnappers on the second day of captivity, while another teacher, Esiyan Adegboye, lost his life during the attack.
Alamu explained that the kidnappers carried out the killings to pressure the government into meeting their demands.
While Adegboye’s body was later recovered and buried in Ogbomoso on May 22, Oyedokun’s remains are yet to be found despite the successful rescue of the remaining pupils and teachers after spending 57 days in captivity.
