A grieving widow in Oyo State has made an emotional appeal to security agencies and government authorities to recover the remains of her husband after he was reportedly beheaded during a deadly bandit attack on schools in the Oriire Local Government Area.
The victim, identified as Michael Oyedokun, was a mathematics teacher at Community High School Ahoro-Esinele, one of the schools attacked by armed bandits on May 15. The brutal incident, which left communities in shock, resulted in the abduction of dozens of students and teachers while at least two educators were confirmed dead.
One week after the coordinated assault, Michael’s wife, Mary Oyedokun, publicly pleaded with authorities to help locate and recover her husband’s body so the family could give him a proper burial.
Speaking through tears during a community gathering, the widow described the pain and trauma the family has endured since learning of her husband’s death through disturbing videos circulated online. According to reports, graphic footage emerged shortly after the attack allegedly confirming that the teacher had been killed by his captors.
Mary appealed to members of the public to stop sharing the disturbing clips, saying the circulation of the video had deepened the emotional suffering of relatives and loved ones.
“My husband deserves dignity even in death,” she said. “I am begging the authorities to help us recover his body so we can bury him properly. The videos being shared online are causing us more pain.”
The couple had reportedly been married for more than a decade without children, making the tragedy even more heartbreaking for relatives and members of their community who described Michael as a dedicated educator and peaceful family man.
Residents of Ahoro-Esinele and surrounding communities have continued to mourn the victims while demanding stronger security measures to prevent further attacks on schools in the area. Many parents have reportedly refused to send their children back to school due to fears of another assault.
The May 15 attack targeted three schools in the Oriire axis of Oyo State in what authorities believe was a coordinated operation carried out by heavily armed bandits. Witnesses said the attackers stormed the schools during school hours, firing sporadically and causing panic among students and teachers.
Several students and staff members were abducted during the raid, while others managed to escape into nearby bushes. Survivors recounted terrifying moments as gunmen moved from classroom to classroom searching for victims.
Security agencies later confirmed that two teachers lost their lives during the attack, while dozens of people remained missing in the aftermath.
Since the incident, security forces including the police, military, and local vigilante groups have launched rescue operations in nearby forests and suspected hideouts believed to be used by the attackers. However, authorities say the search efforts have been complicated by the presence of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) allegedly planted by fleeing criminals.
Police authorities announced earlier this week that six suspects had been arrested in connection with the attack. According to investigators, the suspects are currently being interrogated as efforts continue to identify other members of the gang responsible for the violence.
Despite the arrests, there has been growing frustration among residents over the slow pace of rescue operations and the inability of authorities to recover the bodies of those killed or secure the release of abducted victims.
Community leaders have called on both the state and federal governments to deploy additional security personnel to vulnerable rural areas where schools and farming communities have increasingly become targets for armed criminal groups.
Governor Seyi Makinde condemned the attack and assured residents that his administration would intensify efforts to improve security across Oyo State. In a statement issued after the incident, the governor described the killings and abductions as “barbaric” and vowed that those responsible would face justice.
Makinde also promised support for affected families and directed security agencies to work closely with local communities to strengthen intelligence gathering and emergency response mechanisms.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu similarly reacted to the incident, expressing condolences to the families of the victims and reaffirming the federal government’s commitment to tackling insecurity across the country.
The President reportedly ordered security agencies to intensify operations against criminal gangs terrorizing schools and rural communities, warning that attacks on educational institutions would not be tolerated.
The attack has once again highlighted growing concerns about insecurity in parts of Nigeria, particularly the increasing vulnerability of schools in rural communities. In recent years, kidnappings and attacks on schools have become a recurring security challenge, with criminal groups often targeting students and teachers for ransom.
Education advocates say the persistent threat of violence is undermining learning, forcing many schools to shut down temporarily and leaving parents fearful about the safety of their children.
Human rights organizations have also criticized the circulation of graphic videos related to violent incidents, warning that such content can traumatize victims’ families and desensitize the public to violence.
For Mary Oyedokun, however, the pain remains deeply personal. Friends and relatives say she has struggled emotionally since receiving confirmation of her husband’s death while still hoping authorities can at least recover his remains.
“We just want closure,” a family member said. “The family deserves the chance to bury him with dignity.”
As rescue efforts continue, many abducted teachers and students are still believed to be in captivity, raising fears among residents that the crisis could worsen if urgent action is not taken.
The tragedy has sparked renewed calls for comprehensive reforms to improve rural security, protect schools, and provide better support for victims of violent attacks.
For now, grieving families across Oriire continue to wait anxiously for answers while security operatives search dangerous forest areas in hopes of rescuing survivors and recovering the remains of those killed in one of the state’s deadliest recent school attacks.
