The Oyo State Government and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Oyo State chapter, have dismissed reports alleging that a teacher in Ogbomoso was beaten to death by students, describing the story as fake and misleading.
Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Olusegun Olayiwola; Oyo State NUT Chairman, Comrade Raji Oladimeji; and the Principal of Soun High School, Ogbomoso, Mr. Ajayi Adeyinka, clarified on Monday that the deceased, Mr. Adegoke Fatai Abiodun, died of bone marrow cancer, not as a result of any assault by students.
Speaking after a stakeholders’ meeting in Ibadan, Olayiwola explained that the incident in question occurred on May 28, 2025, when the late teacher caught four students gambling within the school premises. He stated that while attempting to discipline one of them, Mr. Adegoke accidentally dislocated his arm.
According to him, subsequent medical examinations revealed that the teacher was battling Stage 4 bone marrow cancer, which eventually led to his death on November 4, 2025.
“We have conducted a thorough investigation and confirmed that the claim is false,” Olayiwola said. “The deceased was not beaten by any student. His wife, who is also a staff member of TESCOM, confirmed this to us.”
He cautioned residents and journalists against spreading unverified information, warning that fake news could cause unnecessary panic and damage reputations.
The Commissioner noted that a delegation led by the TESCOM Chairman would visit the bereaved family to condole with them.
Corroborating the government’s position, the Principal of Soun High School, Mr. Adeyinka, said the late teacher had been a dedicated educator whose illness was misrepresented online.
“The deceased dislocated his arm while trying to reprimand one of the students caught gambling. He later sought medical attention from a local bone therapist and later at hospitals, where it was discovered that he had brittle bones linked to bone marrow cancer,” Adeyinka said.
He added that the school had punished the involved students immediately after the incident.
Also speaking, the Oyo State NUT Chairman, Comrade Oladimeji, expressed concern over the spread of the fake story, saying it had caused needless anxiety among teachers.
“The NUT got involved only after Mr. Adegoke fell ill. We raised about ₦2 million to support his treatment before he eventually passed on. It is unfortunate that some individuals twisted the story for sensational purposes,” he stated.
The NUT and the state government extended their condolences to the deceased’s family, urging the public to verify news reports before sharing them.
