The Oyo State Government has dismissed reports that a teacher in Ogbomoso was beaten to death by his students, clarifying that the deceased, Mr. Adegoke Fatai Abiodun, died from complications related to bone marrow cancer and not from any physical assault.
According to a press release issued by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Oyo State Governor, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the state government, alongside the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Oyo State chapter, described the viral report as “fake, misleading, and a deliberate attempt to misinform the public.”
Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Olusegun Olayiwola, who spoke after a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in Ibadan, said findings from the school where the deceased worked confirmed that he was not beaten by students.
“We have gone into the roots of the matter and found out that the information is false. The late Mr. Adegoke Fatai had been sick for some time, and his ailment was only recently diagnosed as bone marrow cancer,” Olayiwola said.
He explained that the teacher sustained a dislocation while trying to discipline a student who was gambling in school on May 28, 2025, and that the injury was later managed by a local bone therapist and a private hospital before the cancer diagnosis was made.
“What happened was that Mr. Adegoke apprehended four students gambling in the school premises. One of the boys happened to be a son of his friend. While attempting to discipline him, the teacher’s hand hit the boy’s elbow, leading to a dislocation. He was given medical attention, but later, it was discovered that his bone was already weakened by cancer,” he added.
The commissioner noted that the ministry verified the situation through multiple sources, including the school principal, NUT officials, and local government authorities in Ogbomoso, before confirming that the deceased was never assaulted.
“I have personally spoken with the wife of the deceased, who also works with TESCOM, and she confirmed that her husband was not beaten by any student. It is unfortunate that some individuals are spreading falsehood over a tragic incident,” Olayiwola said.
Principal of Soun High School, Ogbomoso, Mr. Ajayi Adeyinka, also dismissed the claim, saying the deceased was a committed teacher who had been battling health challenges for months before his death.
“The incident being circulated happened in May, but he was not beaten by any student. He dislocated his arm while trying to discipline a student. Along the line, the local therapist could not fix it properly, and after several medical checks, it was discovered that he had bone marrow cancer at Stage 4,” the principal explained.
In the same vein, the Oyo State NUT Chairman, Comrade Raji Oladimeji, decried the spread of the false report, warning that it could create unnecessary fear among teachers.
“The union got involved in his case when we started raising funds for his treatment. We raised about two million naira to support him, but sadly, he passed away after the diagnosis. There was never a report of any student assault,” Oladimeji said.
He added that the NUT has released a statement to calm the tension and clarify the facts surrounding the teacher’s death.
The Oyo State Government and the entire education family in the state have extended condolences to the bereaved family, praying for the repose of the deceased’s soul and urging the public to avoid spreading unverified information.
