One of the teachers abducted from Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Michael Oyedokun, has been killed by suspected terrorists.
Oyedokun was reportedly beheaded in a disturbing video allegedly released by the abductors on Sunday, days after the attack on the school.
The video, which circulated on Telegram and other social media platforms on Monday, reportedly showed the teacher tied up and forced to speak before he was gruesomely killed.
The incident has sparked outrage and renewed fears over the safety of the remaining victims still being held captive.
Residents of the community, families of the abducted victims and concerned Nigerians have continued to call on security agencies and the Oyo State Government to intensify rescue efforts before more lives are lost.
Confirming the killing, the Special Adviser on Media to Governor Seyi Makinde, Dr Suleimon Olanrewaju, said the governor had expressed condolences to the family of the slain teacher and assured residents that the government was deploying both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to secure the release of the remaining victims.
He disclosed that seven teachers were abducted during the attack.
“What we know right now is that seven teachers in all were abducted. Unfortunately, we got a video this morning that one of the teachers, the mathematics teacher, was killed by the terrorists,” he said.
Olanrewaju also revealed that six suspects linked to the kidnapping had already been arrested within the locality, while another security outfit arrested three additional persons of interest connected to the incident.
“Some of them, we believe, are perhaps informants or people running logistics for the terrorists,” he stated.
He further sympathised with the families of soldiers, Amotekun operatives and local vigilantes who lost their lives during rescue operations.
According to him, the security operatives died after encountering Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) allegedly planted by the abductors during the mission.
He added that injured security personnel were responding positively to treatment and assured that the state government would bear the cost of their medical care.
Olanrewaju appealed to relatives of the victims, religious organisations and residents to remain patient as efforts to rescue the captives continue.
“There may not be quick fixes, but we will continue to push ourselves to the limit to resolve this quickly,” he said.
The gunmen had invaded the school on Friday, May 15, abducting the principal, teachers and several students.
The attack has intensified concerns over worsening insecurity in Oyo State and other parts of the country, especially following recent kidnapping attempts and deadly attacks on major highways and rural communities.
