One of the teachers abducted from Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Michael Oyedokun, has been killed by his captors.

A video allegedly released by the kidnappers on Sunday and obtained via Telegram showed the teacher being beheaded after he was tied up and forced to speak. The disturbing footage has heightened fears over the safety of the remaining victims still in captivity.

The incident has plunged the community into mourning, with residents and families of the abducted victims urging security agencies and the Oyo State Government to intensify efforts to secure the release of those still held.

Confirming the killing on Monday, Governor Seyi Makinde’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Suleimon Olanrewaju, said the governor had expressed condolences to the victim’s family and assured that the government was deploying both military and non-military strategies to rescue the remaining hostages.

Olanrewaju disclosed that at least six suspects linked to the abduction had been arrested, including individuals believed to be informants and logistics suppliers for the kidnappers.

He also confirmed that members of a joint rescue team comprising soldiers, operatives of the Amotekun Corps, and local vigilantes lost their lives during the operation after encountering Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) allegedly planted by the abductors.

According to him, injured security personnel are responding to treatment, while the state government has pledged to cover their medical care.

“We know that seven teachers were abducted and, unfortunately, one of them, said to be the mathematics teacher, was killed by the terrorists,” Olanrewaju said, while appealing to families and religious groups to remain patient as rescue efforts continue.

The victims were abducted after gunmen invaded the school on Friday, May 15, taking away the principal, several teachers, and some students.

The attack has renewed concerns over worsening insecurity in parts of Oyo State, coming weeks after a failed kidnap attempt along the Ibadan-Ijebu Road reportedly left a traveller dead.