Saturday, February 8, 2025

Police launch search as Nigerian poet goes missing at festival in UK

The Northamptonshire Police described Mr Odubanjo as 5ft tall, wearing glasses, short black dreadlocks, and having a full-face beard.

• August 30, 2023
Gboyega Odubanjo
Gboyega Odubanjo [photo credit : Mixmag]

The police in the UK have begun a search for a Nigerian poet, Gboyega Odubanjo, who had gone missing at a festival in the United Kingdom.

According to a statement by Northamptonshire Police, the poet went missing last Saturday, August 26, while attending the Shambala Festival in Kelmarsh, Northamptonshire, where he was to perform.

The poet, 27, from Bromley, southeast London, was last seen around 4:00 a.m. wearing a red and white striped gilet with black clothing underneath and a cream-coloured bucket hat, black trousers, and dark-coloured shoes.

The Northamptonshire Police described Mr Odubanjo as 5ft tall, wearing glasses, short black dreadlocks, and having a full-face beard.

The police stated, “If you see Gboyega, please call Northamptonshire Police on 999. Information and previous sightings can also be reported by calling 101, quoting reference number MPD1/2619/23.”

The poet, currently studying for his PhD in creative writing at the University of Hertfordshire, is an editor for Bad Betty Press and the poetry magazine Bath Magg and the winner of the 2020 Poetry Business New Poets prize for his pamphlet Aunty Uncle Poems and an Eric Gregory award from the Society of Authors.

Meanwhile, Mr Odubanjo’s family, while describing their son as loving and caring, showed “profound concern” for their son’s safety and well-being, stating that his disappearance was “entirely out of character.”

In their appeal, the family said: “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.”

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Abubakar Kyari

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Shooting Star vs Eyimba (Credit: NPFL)

Sport

NPFL: Late goal from substitute Odibo earns Shooting Stars’ slim win to stay second

Odibo latched on to a cleared ball to blast a low shot into the net from the right side of Bendel Insurance’s penalty area during a sustained offensive.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

World

Prince Harry suffering enough from Meghan Markle, no need to deport him: Donald Trump

Quizzed about his stance on the matter, Mr Trump said deportation was not in the cards for Harry, saying he had bigger fish to fry.

States

Governor Yahaya appoints 109 directors for Gombe civil service

Ms Jimeta said 172 deputy directors across administrative and professional cadres participated in the selection exercise.

Governor Alex Otti

States

Gov. Otti tasks Abia state executive council on enhanced performance

Mr Otti said periodic assessments and leveraging past achievements are vital to improving governance and institutional efficiency.

PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU

NationWide

Tinubu running transparent govt devoid of religious, ethnic sentiment: Aide

“I want to assure you that the Tinubu administration is non-partisan; it is devoid of ethnic or religious sentiments,” said Ms Omotayo.

Lanre Ogunlowo

States

Ogun CP urges motorists to exercise patience

Ms Odutola said the CP went on an unscheduled security and safety tour to Ewekoro when he met a gridlock on the Lafarge dual carriageway.