Oyo Teacher's Family Plans Farewell Service Despite Missing Body

The family of Michael Olugbade Oyedokun, a teacher killed by gunmen in Oyo State, is set to hold a farewell service for him. This event will take place even though they have not recovered his remains.

Oyedokun was a Mathematics teacher and Vice-Principal at Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle, located in the Oriire Local Government Area. He was kidnapped along with other teachers and students during an attack on May 15, 2026.

The family announced the plan in a notice shared on social media by Oluwabukola, their representative. They said the service would happen on October 30, more than five months after his abduction.

In a tribute to Oyedokun, a family member using the handle its_boukeey on Instagram expressed their sadness. They had hoped for months to find his remains and give him a proper burial.

"151 days since we lost you, Olugbade Michael Oyedokun. For days, we waited and hoped we would find you, bring you home, and give you the farewell you deserved. Sadly, we are yet to find your body," the tribute stated.

The family made the tough choice to hold the service because they could not let the absence of his remains stop them from honoring his life. "Though we waited for the closure we desperately wanted, we cannot allow the absence of your body to mean the absence of a farewell," they added.

The farewell service is set for 11am at Eliz Event Centre, situated behind the Federal Road Safety Corps office in the High School area of Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

The family described Oyedokun as a husband, father, elder brother, and cherished family member. They said his death has left a big gap in the lives of his wife, two sons, siblings, and other loved ones.

"Your life had meaning, and your memory deserves to be honored," the family mentioned, adding that the service would give them a chance to celebrate his life despite the sad circumstances.

Oyedokun was taken during an attack on three schools in Oriire LGA on May 15. He was reportedly killed on the second day of captivity, while others were held for weeks before they were finally rescued.

His family found it especially painful to see a video of the attack that circulated online. His elder half-brother, Samuel Oyedokun, spoke to PUNCH about the trauma of watching the footage and the heartbreak of losing a close family member this way.

The family is worried about not recovering his remains, which stops them from giving him a traditional burial. After the other abductees were rescued in July, the family renewed its call for the Federal Government and security agencies to speed up efforts to find his body.

In an earlier statement, the family said their happiness over the return of the other victims was not complete because Oyedokun would not be coming home. "Our joy is incomplete because one chair at our table will remain empty forever," a family member said.

They also asked President Bola Tinubu and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde for help in ensuring that efforts to recover his remains are increased. They said the long wait has added to their sorrow.

In their latest tribute, the family promised to remember Oyedokun for the life he led and the people he left behind. "Today, we choose to honor your life, remember your legacy, and commend you into the hands of the God who gave you to us," they said.

Oyedokun, who was 57, left behind his wife and two sons. He got married in 2007 and had worked hard to become vice-principal, just a few years away from retirement.

The family said they will hold the farewell service in his honor while still hoping for the recovery of his remains. They live at Olujin Compound, Caretaker, opposite Ijeru Baptist Primary School, Ogbomoso South Local Government Area.