By Bolarinwa Ayoola
Email: [email protected]
Disaster struck Esinle and Yawota in May 2026 when armed Islamists attacked schools and abducted 39 schoolchildren and seven teachers. Three other people were killed during the attack.
The victims spent 57 days in captivity. Tragically, one of the teachers, Mr. Michael Oyedokun, did not survive the ordeal. He was brutally beheaded by his abductors on May 17, 2026, with a video of the barbaric act subsequently circulated on social media.
The eventual release of the abducted victims following joint efforts by the Nigerian military, police and local hunters brought relief to their families and the wider public. The subsequent arrest of some suspected perpetrators also offered a measure of hope that justice would eventually be served.
But for the families of those who were killed, the ordeal did not end with the rescue.
Since the victims were discharged, the Oyo State Government has, in the view of the affected families and concerned members of the public, appeared insensitive to their plight. The promises of assistance have remained largely promises, leaving families who have already suffered unimaginable loss to confront a painful and uncertain future.
On August 7, 2026, delegates of Think Yoruba First visited the families of the late Michael Oyedokun, late Deacon John Olaleye, late Joel Adesiyan and late Ayobami Akanni in Ogbomoso. What they encountered was a sobering reminder that behind every headline about terrorism are families left to pick up the pieces.
Mrs. Mary Olubusola Oyedokun, widow of the late Michael Oyedokun, remains visibly traumatised by the loss of her husband. According to Pastor Joel Alamu, a brother of the deceased, Mrs. Oyedokun has been ill and undergoing treatment since the incident.
The family is also struggling financially. Oyedokun was a major source of support for his household, and his death has created uncertainty for his surviving children, including Samuel and Abiodun, particularly regarding their education and everyday needs.
The situation is no different for the other bereaved families.
Mrs. Funke Olaleye spoke of the difficulty of accepting the death of her husband, Deacon John Olaleye. She also expressed frustration over reports that ₦10 million had been given to each of the families, insisting that the reality confronting them does not reflect such claims.
She also questioned reports surrounding the purported adoption of the children of one of the deceased, describing it as a politically motivated publicity stunt.
Mrs. Grace Akanni and Victoria Adesiyan similarly said they were yet to receive relief from the state government. They also maintained that the reported ₦10 million pledge by the Nigerian Senate to each bereaved family remains unfulfilled.
This is where government must look beyond press statements and public relations.
The protection of lives and property is one of the fundamental responsibilities of government. Where government fails to prevent a tragedy of this magnitude, it has an even greater responsibility to ensure that the victims and their families are not abandoned afterwards.
Reports that the schools where the abduction occurred allegedly lacked adequate security arrangements should also not be ignored. The tragedy has happened, and there is little value in crying over spilled milk. But lessons must be learnt, responsibility must be accepted and meaningful measures must be taken to prevent a recurrence.
More importantly, the survivors and the families of those who were killed require long-term psychological and emotional support.
Imagine being a child who witnessed the gruesome death of your father. Imagine a wife losing her husband in such circumstances. These are not experiences that disappear because an abducted person has been released.
The children and widow of the late Oyedokun, in particular, require professional counselling and therapy. They need help processing the trauma and rebuilding their lives.
There is also an economic reality that cannot be ignored.
The four men who lost their lives were pillars of their respective families. Their deaths did not only create emotional wounds; they created economic wounds as well. Food, healthcare, education, housing and other basic needs do not disappear because a family is grieving.
This is why the Oyo State Government must find its human face.
Government assistance should not be limited to condolences, promises and press releases. It must translate into real money, medical care, psychological support and educational assistance.
Several promises have been announced concerning the victims of the Oriire abduction. But promises remain pie in the sky until they are delivered.
The families of the late Michael Oyedokun, John Olaleye, Joel Adesiyan and Ayobami Akanni have already paid an unbearable price. They should not be forced to pay another price by being abandoned after their loved ones were taken from them.
Think Yoruba First therefore appeals to the Oyo State Government to urgently provide meaningful financial, medical, psychological and educational assistance to these families. We equally call on the leadership of the Nigerian Senate to fulfil its reported ₦10 million pledge to each of the bereaved families.
Beyond the money, these families need reassurance that their society has not forgotten them.
They need to know that their husbands, fathers and loved ones did not die in vain and that the government and fellow citizens still care about what happens to those they left behind.
Government must act. Promises must become reality.
The future of these families must not become a pipe dream simply because they lost their loved ones to terrorism.
They deserve support. They deserve dignity. They deserve hope.
And above all, they deserve to know that they have not been forgotten.