ABUJA, Nigeria — The family of a Nigerian schoolteacher who was allegedly abducted and beheaded by terrorists has made an urgent, direct appeal to President Bola Tinubu, demanding the recovery of his remains and the rescue of several other hostages still held in captivity.
The victim, Oyedokun Michael Olugbade, was a teacher at Community High School in Ahoro-Esinle, located within the Oriire Local Government Area of southwestern Oyo State. He was seized alongside an undisclosed number of other victims during a violent raid by suspected terrorists on 15 May 2026.
In a formal petition dated 25 May 2026 and addressed to the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the family’s legal representatives, Deji Adeyanju & Partners, detailed the “heartbreaking and inhumane circumstances” surrounding the educator’s death.
A Fatal Raid on Education
The attack underscores a persistent and deeply worrying trend of ransom-driven kidnappings targeting educational institutions across Nigeria. While such attacks have historically plagued the country’s northern regions, this recent incident highlights the expanding geographical reach of armed criminal networks into the country’s south-west.
According to the official correspondence seen on Mr. Adeyanju’s Facebook page, Mr. Olugbade was described as a “peaceful and diligent teacher”. His death has left his wife and two young sons deeply traumatised.
The family’s lawyers revealed that despite widespread domestic reports confirming the brutal murder and beheading of the teacher, security agencies have yet to locate or recover his body.
Hostages Still in Captivity
The crisis extends beyond the grief of a single household. The petition highlights that several other innocent citizens, who were abducted during the same mid-May school raid, remain trapped in rural hideouts.
The letter states:
“Our clients remain deeply disturbed that several other innocent Nigerians, including persons abducted alongside Late Mr. Oyedokun Michael Olugbade during the same tragic incident, are still believed to be held in captivity by these terrorists under extremely life threatening conditions.”
The family has respectfully urged President Tinubu to directly order intelligence and military agencies to intensify their operations in the region. The immediate priority remains twofold: locating Mr Olugbade’s remains so his family can conduct a dignified burial, and launching a rescue mission for the surviving hostages.
Demands for Presidential Action
As signed by human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju Esq. and authenticated with the Nigerian Bar Association seal in the file deji2.jpg, the legal team strongly pressured the president to take personal charge of the state’s response.
The firm earnestly urged the president “not to delegate this matter to representatives alone”. Instead, they have asked the commander-in-chief to be at the forefront of the response, including making a physical visit to the affected families to offer reassurance of the government’s commitment to security.
The Nigerian presidency has not yet issued a formal response to the petition. Meanwhile, local communities in Oyo State remain on high alert as security forces continue to face immense pressure to curb the lucrative and violent kidnapping industry that continues to threaten ordinary citizens.
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