*Northamptonshire, UK – August 31, 2023*:
In a somber development, police have announced the discovery of a body in the ongoing search for missing poet Gboyega Odubanjo. The 27-year-old poet had been scheduled to perform at the Shambala festival in Kelmarsh, Northamptonshire, on Sunday, August 27, but failed to make it to his performance.
Gboyega Odubanjo, hailing from Woolwich in south east London, was last seen at the Shambala festival around 4 a.m. on Saturday, August 26. Concerns for his whereabouts grew as he remained unaccounted for, prompting a plea for information from the public.
A spokesperson for Northamptonshire Police confirmed the grim discovery on Thursday, August 31, stating, “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 9 a.m. on Thursday, August 31, in the course of a specialized search of the area.”
Formal identification of the body is pending, but the missing man’s family has been informed, and they are receiving support from specially trained officers during this difficult time.
Authorities have indicated that there are no apparent suspicious circumstances surrounding the death, though a comprehensive investigation will likely follow.
Gboyega Odubanjo’s disappearance had deeply worried his family, who had expressed “profound concern” for his safety and well-being. His sudden and uncharacteristic absence from the Shambala festival had left both his loved ones and the literary community anxiously awaiting news of his whereabouts.
The discovery of the body marks a tragic turn of events in the search for the missing poet, casting a shadow over what was initially a joyous occasion for the arts community at the Shambala festival.
