Gboyega Odubanjo: Body found in search for missing Bromley poet

A body has been found during the search for a 27-year-old poet who had been missing since the weekend.

Police officers made the discovery shortly before 9am on Thursday, August 31, in the course of a specialised search of the area.

Gboyega Odubanjo had last been seen in the Kelmarsh area of Northamptonshire at around 4am on Saturday, August 26. He had been due to perform at the Shambala festival later that day.

While formal identification has yet to take place, Mr Odubanjo’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.

Det Ch Insp Johnny Campbell said: “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.

“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.”

Shambala Festival added it was "heartbroken" in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Police dogs, specially trained search officers, Northamptonshire’s Search and Rescue, a police dive team and local officers all searched for the poet.

Mr Odubanjo was from Bromley, east London, and was studying for a PhD at the University of Hertfordshire.

Mr Odubanjo’s pamphlet, Aunty Uncle Poems, was a winner of the Poetry Business New Poets prize in 2020.

He was the recipient of an Eric Gregory award from the Society of Authors and a Michael Marks pamphlet award.