Missing Nigerian Poet, Gboyega Odubanjo Found Dead
Category:
Crime News
The police in the UK say they found a body during the search for Gboyega Odubanjo, the British-Nigerian poet who went missing at a rural music festival.
Police have found a body in the search for missing poet Gboyega Odubanjo who never arrived to perform at a festival in Northamptonshire.
Mr Odubanjo, 27, was scheduled to do a reading at the Shambala festival in Kelmarsh on Sunday August 27 but never arrived for his performance.
He was last seen at around 4am on Saturday August 26 at the event. Officers have been appealing for information about Gboyega, from Woolwich, south east London.
A Northamptonshire Police spokesperson said today: ‘A body has sadly been found during the search for a 27-year-old man reported missing in Kelmarsh.
‘Police officers made the discovery shortly before 9am on Thursday, August 31, in the course of a specialized search of the area.
‘The man had been reported missing on Sunday, August 27, having last been seen at Shambala festival early the previous morning.
‘While formal identification has yet to take place, the man’s family has been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.
‘There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.’
Johnny Campbell, a detective chief inspector, urged the public not to contact the man’s family and “respect their privacy”.
He said a file would be prepared for the coroner.
“Our thoughts are with the man’s family at this very difficult time, and we would ask the media and members of the public to not contact them and respect their privacy,” he said.
“We would like to thank all those involved in the search efforts, including the volunteer members of Northamptonshire Search and Rescue and the specialist search-trained officers from other forces who supported our efforts.
“We would also like to thank all those who have supported our investigation by speaking to officers or getting in touch with information.
“Officers from Northamptonshire Police will now prepare a file for the coroner.
“The missing persons enquiry was led by detectives from the Force’s CID. Search efforts involved the use of police search dogs, specially trained police search advisor officers, neighborhood and response police officers, a police dive team, and volunteer members of Northamptonshire Search and Rescue, including their trained search dogs.”
Odubanjo is studying for a PhD at the University of Hertfordshire. He works as an editor for Bad Betty Press and the poetry magazine Bath Magg.
Mr Odubanjo’s family previously said they had ‘profound concern’ for their son’s safety and wellbeing and his disappearance is ‘entirely out of character’.
In their appeal, they said: ‘He has a warm and infectious personality, a contagious smile and a heart full of kindness.’
‘We are reaching out to the community, friends and all compassionate individuals who may have any information that could lead to his safe return. No piece of information is too small, and your help could be the key to bringing him back to us.
‘Thank you for taking the time to read our appeal. We pray for Gboyega’s safe return and for the strength to endure this challenging time,’ they added.
The police in the UK say they found a body during the search for Gboyega Odubanjo, the British-Nigerian poet who went missing at a rural music festival.
Police have found a body in the search for missing poet Gboyega Odubanjo who never arrived to perform at a festival in Northamptonshire.
Mr Odubanjo, 27, was scheduled to do a reading at the Shambala festival in Kelmarsh on Sunday August 27 but never arrived for his performance.
He was last seen at around 4am on Saturday August 26 at the event. Officers have been appealing for information about Gboyega, from Woolwich, south east London.
A Northamptonshire Police spokesperson said today: ‘A body has sadly been found during the search for a 27-year-old man reported missing in Kelmarsh.
‘Police officers made the discovery shortly before 9am on Thursday, August 31, in the course of a specialized search of the area.
‘The man had been reported missing on Sunday, August 27, having last been seen at Shambala festival early the previous morning.
‘While formal identification has yet to take place, the man’s family has been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.
‘There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.’
Johnny Campbell, a detective chief inspector, urged the public not to contact the man’s family and “respect their privacy”.
He said a file would be prepared for the coroner.
“Our thoughts are with the man’s family at this very difficult time, and we would ask the media and members of the public to not contact them and respect their privacy,” he said.
“We would like to thank all those involved in the search efforts, including the volunteer members of Northamptonshire Search and Rescue and the specialist search-trained officers from other forces who supported our efforts.
“We would also like to thank all those who have supported our investigation by speaking to officers or getting in touch with information.
“Officers from Northamptonshire Police will now prepare a file for the coroner.
“The missing persons enquiry was led by detectives from the Force’s CID. Search efforts involved the use of police search dogs, specially trained police search advisor officers, neighborhood and response police officers, a police dive team, and volunteer members of Northamptonshire Search and Rescue, including their trained search dogs.”
Odubanjo is studying for a PhD at the University of Hertfordshire. He works as an editor for Bad Betty Press and the poetry magazine Bath Magg.
Mr Odubanjo’s family previously said they had ‘profound concern’ for their son’s safety and wellbeing and his disappearance is ‘entirely out of character’.
In their appeal, they said: ‘He has a warm and infectious personality, a contagious smile and a heart full of kindness.’
‘We are reaching out to the community, friends and all compassionate individuals who may have any information that could lead to his safe return. No piece of information is too small, and your help could be the key to bringing him back to us.
‘Thank you for taking the time to read our appeal. We pray for Gboyega’s safe return and for the strength to endure this challenging time,’ they added.
No comments