The family of Deacon John Olaleye, one of the two teachers killed by terrorists during the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, has appealed to the Federal Government and Governor Seyi Makinde to help recover his remains for a proper burial.
The emotional appeal was made by the deceased’s elder brother and widow a few days after security forces rescued 39 pupils and five surviving teachers who spent 56 days in captivity.
Olaleye was among seven teachers and 39 pupils abducted when armed terrorists attacked three schools in Oriire LGA on May 15, 2026. During the attack, one teacher was killed on the spot, while the remaining victims were taken into the forest by the attackers.
Weeks into the captivity, another teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded by the terrorists, who released a disturbing video of the killing that sparked outrage across Nigeria and renewed concerns over insecurity in schools.
It was only after the successful rescue operation that government authorities confirmed that Olaleye had also been killed while in captivity, bringing the number of teachers murdered by the terrorists to two.
Speaking in a video shared by TVC on Friday, Olaleye’s elder brother said the family had no knowledge of his death until they heard Governor Makinde’s broadcast announcing the rescue of the remaining victims.
“I am John Olaleye Olayinka’s brother, one of the teachers killed during the Oriire abduction. We never knew he was killed until we listened to the broadcast by the governor,” he said.
He appealed to both the Federal Government and the Oyo State Government to make every effort to recover the late teacher’s body so the family could give him a dignified burial.
According to him, even if only skeletal remains could be recovered, it would bring some comfort to the grieving family and allow them to perform the necessary burial rites.
“We are appealing to the government… if they can release his remains, even if it is just his bones, so we can see them, for the sake of the children’s future,” he pleaded.
The deceased’s brother also called on the government to support the family left behind by the slain teacher.
He appealed for employment for Olaleye’s widow and educational support for the couple’s three children, saying such assistance would help ease the burden on the family.
“His wife, if they can help us secure a job for her, it would be highly appreciated. He left three children behind. If they can help provide them with an education scholarship, we will be grateful,” he said.
In a separate video, Olaleye’s widow also appealed to the government to recover her husband’s remains so she could lay him to rest.
She described the moment she learnt that her husband was not among those rescued as heartbreaking.
“I was heartbroken when I heard that my husband was not among those released.
“My plea to the government is that they should please, in the name of God, release my husband’s corpse to me,” she said.
The widow also appealed for financial assistance and educational support for their children, saying she now bears the full responsibility of raising the family alone.
“He left three children behind. My appeal is that they should support us concerning these children, especially with their education.
“As for me, I am the one solely responsible for taking care of everything in the house. I am begging the government to have mercy on us and help us in whatever way they can,” she said.
The family’s appeal came just days after the Federal Government announced the rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers following what it described as an intelligence-led security operation involving the military and other security agencies.
After regaining their freedom, the rescued pupils and teachers received medical attention, trauma counselling and psychosocial support before reuniting with their families.
The Oriire school abduction was one of the most shocking attacks on educational institutions in recent times and renewed concerns over the safety of schools, particularly in rural communities. The incident also reignited calls for stronger security around schools under the Federal Government’s Safe Schools Initiative.
Following the rescue operation, the Senate approved a donation of N50 million to the families of five people who lost their lives during the operation. The beneficiaries include the families of the two teachers killed by the terrorists and three soldiers who died while participating in the rescue mission.
Under the Senate’s resolution, each bereaved family is expected to receive N10 million to help support the children and dependants left behind.
However, when asked about the intervention, Olaleye’s widow said she had not received any official communication regarding the financial support.
“No, I haven’t heard anything about it,” she replied.
Her response has raised questions about how quickly the approved assistance will reach the affected families.
Meanwhile, many Nigerians have continued to commend the security forces for securing the release of the kidnapped pupils and teachers after nearly two months in captivity. At the same time, there have been renewed calls for greater efforts to protect schools, rescue those still missing and ensure that families who lost loved ones receive the support they need.
For Olaleye’s family, however, the rescue operation remains incomplete until his remains are recovered and laid to rest. They say only then can they begin to find closure after weeks of uncertainty, grief and painful waiting.