The Oyo State Ministry of Education and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Oyo State chapter, have strongly refuted viral claims that an Ogbomoso teacher, Mr. Adegoke Fatai Abiodun, was beaten to death by students, clarifying that he succumbed to Stage 4 bone marrow cancer.
Speaking after a crucial stakeholders’ meeting on Monday, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Olusegun Olayiwola, along with the Oyo State NUT Chairman, Comrade Raji Oladimeji, and the Principal of Soun High School, Ogbomoso, Mr. Ajayi Adeyinka, provided a detailed and unified account to correct the fake and unfounded misrepresentation of facts.
The officials confirmed that an incident did occur on May 28, 2025, where the late Mr. Adegoke caught four students gambling on school premises.
However, they stressed that the teacher was not beaten by the students. Instead, the teacher dislocated his arm when one of the culprits ducked while the teacher attempted to strike him, causing his hand to land on the boy’s elbow. Mr. Adegoke sadly passed away much later, on November 4, 2025.
The Commissioner explained that initial efforts to treat the dislocated arm through a local bone therapist and a private hospital were insufficient. During subsequent medical attention at a government hospital, it was tragically discovered that the late teacher was suffering from Stage 4 bone marrow cancer.
The Commissioner noted that investigations, which included speaking with the deceased’s wife (who is a TESCOM staff member) and extensive consultations with key education stakeholders and political leaders in Ogbomosoland, confirmed the cause of death was the advanced cancer, not physical assault.
Mr. Ajayi Adeyinka, the Principal of Soun High School, corroborated this, noting that the teacher was a dedicated staff member who died after being down with the late-diagnosed bone marrow cancer.
The Principal recounted how the teacher initially sought local treatment before being referred to a private hospital where his bones were described as “brittle.”
Eventually, the NUT mobilized funds (totaling about N2 million) to move him to a government hospital where the Stage 4 cancer diagnosis was confirmed just days before his death.
The NUT Chairman, Comrade Oladimeji, decried the spread of fake news, which he said was creating unnecessary tension and scaring hardworking teachers.
He confirmed that the union’s involvement was in raising treatment funds after the cancer diagnosis, not responding to an assault. He stated that the spurious claim had been incorrectly magnified into a national issue.
The Oyo State Government and the NUT family extended heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased, while simultaneously issuing a stern warning to the public and the media to exercise caution and avoid peddling unverified information and rumors regarding such a sensitive matter.