More photos of Mr. Michael Oyedekun, one of the teachers abducted by terrorists after a violent attack on schools in the Aholo-Esinele community in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, have emerged online.
NewsRegion had reported that Oyedekun was later beheaded in a video that went viral online on Monday.
The footage immediately sent grief and panic across the country as many Nigerians continue to call out the government over the worsening insecurity.
However, some social media users have expressed fear over the psychological impact of the spread of the footage on the deceased’s family.
In an emotional Facebook post shared by a family member, Adesewa Oladosu, she called on Nigerians to desist from sharing and reposting the video of his killing and instead use photographs officially approved by the family whenever necessary.
“Hello everyone, please we sincerely appeal to the public and media platforms to kindly reduce or stop sharing the graphic videos and pictures of our beloved uncle.
We truly appreciate the love, concern, and sympathy shown towards our family during this painful time.
“However, the continuous circulation of those videos and images is deeply traumatizing for us as a family,” she wrote.
Adesewa disclosed that Oyedokun’s children are currently sitting for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination.
She added that the repeated appearance of the videos online has made the period emotionally devastating for them.
“His children are currently writing their WAEC 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,” she stated.
Oladosu urged members of the public to exercise compassion and sensitivity by blurring disturbing visuals or avoiding the clips entirely.
“For the sake of our mental and emotional well-being, 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,” she added.
The killing of the teacher has intensified fears and anger in Oyo State following the coordinated attacks on schools in the Oriire axis, where gunmen abducted pupils, teachers, and other residents.
Reports indicated that the attackers stormed multiple schools in the Ahoro-Esinele/Yawota area, abducting dozens of victims before fleeing into nearby forests.
The Oyo State Government later confirmed the death of Oyedokun, while assuring residents that security agencies were intensifying rescue operations to secure the release of the remaining captives.
Meanwhile, the Defense Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed reports of an existing terrorist base in the South-West, insisting that security operations currently underway are focused on rescuing abducted victims and eliminating criminal elements behind recent attacks.
The clarification was made on Tuesday in Abuja by the director of defense media operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja.
Onoja stated that the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, had expressed sympathy to the government and people of Oyo State, as well as families affected by the recent abduction of pupils and teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area.
He condemned the attack on the schools, describing the abduction of innocent children and staff members as unacceptable and criminal.
According to him, the Armed Forces have deployed all necessary resources and personnel to secure the safe and unconditional release of the victims.