While the release of dozens of abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State has brought relief and celebration across the country, the family of one of the teachers killed during the horrific school attack says their joy can never be complete, insisting that the tragedy has left an irreplaceable void.
Speaking after the remaining abducted pupils and teachers regained their freedom, relatives of Michael Oyedokun, the mathematics teacher who was brutally beheaded while in captivity, said the return of the survivors only deepened the painful reality that their loved one would never return home.
“Our uncle is never coming home,” family members lamented, describing the release of the other victims as bittersweet because it constantly reminds them of the teacher whose life was cut short during the ordeal.
The victims were among those abducted on May 15, 2026, when heavily armed gunmen attacked Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, and L.A. Primary School, Esiele, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The coordinated attack resulted in the abduction of 39 pupils and seven teachers, while another teacher, Joel Adesiyan, was killed during the invasion as he attempted to escape. Weeks later, Michael Oyedokun was executed by his captors, with a disturbing video of his killing circulating online and triggering nationwide outrage.
Although security agencies eventually secured the release of the surviving hostages after weeks in captivity, the Oyedokun family said the successful rescue could never erase the pain of losing a devoted husband, father, son and teacher.
According to family members, Michael was widely respected for his dedication to education and his passion for shaping young minds. They described him as a humble and hardworking teacher whose commitment to his profession made him a role model within his school and community.
They recalled that since his death, the family has struggled to come to terms with the gruesome manner in which he was killed, noting that the emotional wounds remain fresh despite the release of the other captives.
The family also called on the Federal Government and the Oyo State Government to ensure that those responsible for the attack are identified, arrested and prosecuted, stressing that justice for the slain teacher remains essential to preventing similar tragedies in Nigerian schools.
Education stakeholders have equally renewed calls for stronger protection of schools across the country, arguing that no teacher or learner should have to risk their lives simply by attending school.
The abduction sparked widespread condemnation and led to a month-long strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Oyo State, with the union insisting that teachers could not continue working under conditions that exposed them to persistent security threats.
Although the strike was later suspended following renewed security assurances from the state government, the union maintained that improving school security must remain a priority for authorities.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier condemned the killings and abduction, describing the attack as unacceptable while assuring Nigerians that security agencies would continue intelligence-led operations to rescue the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The President also extended condolences to the families of the slain teachers, pledging that their sacrifices would not be forgotten and reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening the safety of schools nationwide.
Education advocates say the tragic incident underscores the urgent need to fully implement Nigeria’s Safe Schools Initiative through improved surveillance systems, community intelligence, emergency response mechanisms, and increased deployment of security personnel to vulnerable schools.
They further urged governments to provide psychosocial counselling for the rescued pupils, teachers and affected families, many of whom are expected to live with the emotional and psychological effects of the traumatic experience for years.
As the rescued pupils and teachers begin the difficult process of rebuilding their lives, the family of Michael Oyedokun says their greatest hope is that no other Nigerian family will have to endure the pain they now carry.
For them, the celebration over the victims’ release remains incomplete because, in their words, “our uncle is never coming home.”
