By Ayodele Oni
The family of Michael Oyedokun, one of the three teachers killed in the mass abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, is hopeful that the remains of the deceased can be retrieved from the bush for a proper funeral.
The family has, therefore, appealed to President Bola Tinubu to help in this regard by recovering his remains so they can give him a proper burial.
In an open letter addressed to the President on Tuesday, the family thanked him and security agencies for rescuing the surviving pupils and teachers after nearly two months in captivity.
However, they said their own pain has continued because Oyedokun’s body is still missing.
“The safe return of these victims has restored hope to their families and reaffirmed our confidence in the Government’s commitment to protecting the lives and liberty of its citizens. For this, we are deeply grateful.”
The family pointed out that the successful rescue operation brought joy to many families, but theirs has been left with unanswered questions because they have not been able to recover Oyedokun’s remains.
According to the letter, the absence of his body has prevented them from carrying out burial rites in line with their faith and tradition.
“The absence of his body has prolonged our grief and denied our family the closure that every human being deserves.
“We continue to live with the pain of not knowing where he rests, unable to perform the final rites that would honour his memory and bring peace to our hearts,” the family stated.
The family urged Tinubu to direct security agencies to continue the search for Oyedokun’s remains, saying the same determination that secured the victims’ freedom should also help return his body to loved ones.
They also said recovering his remains would show that every Nigerian deserves dignity, even after death, and would allow the family to begin healing.
The appeal comes days after security operatives rescued pupils and teachers abducted from a school in Oriire Local Government Area .
One of the rescued victims, Community High School Principal, Rachael Alamu, earlier said Oyedokun was beheaded by the kidnappers on the second day of captivity. She also said another teacher, Deacon John was killed om the first Sunday of June while Esiyan Adegboye, a teacher, also, was shot dead on the day of the attack.
Alamu said the kidnappers killed the two teachers, Oyedokun and Deacon, to pressurize the government into meeting their demands.
The rescue followed a joint operation involving the Nigerian Army, the Police, and the Department of State Services.
Authorities said several suspected kidnappers were killed, while eight others were arrested during the operation.
Tinubu praised the security agencies and directed emergency services to provide medical care, welfare support and rehabilitation for the rescued victims.
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