“For sake of our mental, emotional wellbeing,” family of slain Oyo teacher begs Nigerians to stop circulating murder video

The family of Michael Oyedokun, the schoolteacher beheaded by bandits in captivity on Sunday, has appealed to the public to stop sharing graphic videos of his murder.

Oyedokun was one of the teachers abducted by bandits from Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele in Oriire LGA of Oyo state on Friday.

Other schools attacked by the bandits include Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; and LA Primary School in Ogbomoso, all in Oriire LGA, Ogbomoso.

The attack left an assistant headmaster, identified as Joel Adesiyan, and a commercial motorcyclist dead.

The incident prompted the Oyo state government to shut schools in four LGAs as security agencies intensified rescue efforts.

A video allegedly released by the bandits, which circulated on Monday, showed Oyedokun tied up and forced to speak before he was killed.

The video sparked outrage on social media and raised fresh concerns over the safety of the remaining victims.

However, in a statement shared via the Instagram page of Temilola Sobola, a social media influencer, the slain teacher’s family appealed to the public to “reduce or stop sharing the graphic videos and pictures of their beloved uncle”.

“We truly appreciate the love, concern, and sympathy shown towards our family during this painful time,” the statement reads.

“However, the continuous circulation of those videos and images is deeply traumatizing for us as a family.

“His children are currently writing their exams and it has been extremely difficult emotionally for them, his elderly loved ones, and all of us — his nieces, nephews, cousins and relatives — especially as these contents keep appearing on social media.”

The statement cited the need to protect the mental and emotional wellbeing of the late teacher’s relatives.

“For the sake of our mental and emotional wellbeing, we humbly ask that if it is necessary to post about the incident, please kindly blur the videos/images or make use of the pictures officially released by the family instead,” it stated.

“We sincerely appreciate your understanding, prayers, love and support during this difficult period. Thank you.”