Family & Friends Join Search For Man Missing From Shambala Festival

Family and friends of a man who went missing from the Shambala Festival in Kelmarsh say they are very worried about him.

Gboyega Odubanjo is an award-winning poet and had been due to perform at the event in the grounds of Kelmarsh Hall on Sunday.

The 27-year-old from Bromley in east London was last seen there at around 4am on Saturday.

A 30-strong team made-up of family and friends have today joined the search for Gboyega, after arriving at Market Harborough Railway Station earlier today.

His aunt, Antonia Onigbode told HFM it is completely out of character for Gboyega to go missing and is appealing for anyone with information to contact Police:

Gboyega is studying for a PhD at the University of Hertfordshire and his poetry has appeared in publications including The Guardian, The Poetry Review and New Statesman, with his second collection of work is due to be published soon.

Police and volunteers from Northamptonshire Search and Rescue are involved in the search for him.

Close friend Tice Cin told HFM about how family and friends are helping:

Gboyega is 5ft 6in, with short black dreadlocks and a full-face beard.

He wears glasses and was last seen wearing a beige/cream bucket hat, a red and white striped gilet with black clothing underneath, black trousers and dark coloured shoes.

Investigating officer Detective Inspector Nick Peters from Northamptonshire Police said: “We are increasingly concerned about Gboyega, and are repeating our appeal for anyone with information that could help us to find him to get in touch immediately.

“We know he attended the festival with friends, and became separated from them in the early hours of Saturday morning.

“Specialist officers have been searching the area in case something untoward has happened to Gboyega, but at this stage there is no evidence or suggestion of criminality and this remains a missing persons enquiry.

“We appreciate the love and concern that is being shown for Gboyega, but would continue to ask that no-one attempts to conduct their own search for him due to the risks posed by the nature of the terrain.

“I’d like to reassure people that we have a team of officers dedicated to following all lines of enquiry in order to find Gboyega, including investigating all reported sightings. We are liaising with his family and keeping them informed of our progress.

“If you have any information that could be relevant to our investigation, however small or seemingly insignificant, please get in touch if you’ve not already spoken to officers – call 999 with any sightings of Gboyega, and 101 with any other information.”

If you see Gboyega, call Northamptonshire Police on 999.

Information and previous sightings can also be reported by calling 101, quoting reference number MPD1/2619/23.