The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has stated that the recent abduction and deadly attack in Oyo State was carried out by terrorists displaced from other parts of the country following intensified military operations.
The military high command made the clarification on Thursday while reacting to what it described as “mischievous and misleading publications” concerning its earlier comments on criminal and terrorist activities in the South-West region.
In a statement signed by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Michael Onoja, the DHQ identified the attackers as members of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) terrorist group.
According to the military, the group had been pushed out of other regions of the country due to sustained military offensives and high-intensity operations by security forces.
“The recent incidence of kidnap in Oyo State was clearly perpetrated by terrorists of the JAS Group that have been dislodged from other parts of the country due to high-intensity operations being conducted all over,” the statement said.
The Defence Headquarters also rejected reports suggesting that it had described terrorists operating in the South-West as ordinary criminals.
“It is inaccurate and misleading to suggest that the Defence Headquarters, at any point, referred to vicious and violent terrorists as criminals,” Onoja stated.
The military explained that its earlier comments on security developments in the South-West were intended to provide intelligence-based clarification and context regarding the attacks.
According to the DHQ, the clarification became necessary to prevent misinformation and avoid unnecessary panic among residents.
The military further stressed that it never attempted to undermine any elected official or minimise the seriousness of the attack.
“At no time did the Defence Headquarters undermine the authority of any democratically elected leader or seek to diminish the gravity of the heinous crime committed against innocent citizens by terrorist elements,” the statement added.
The DHQ disclosed that troops remain deployed in affected communities in collaboration with other security agencies and local stakeholders to combat terrorist and criminal activities.
It stated that the ongoing operations are targeted at dismantling networks threatening national peace, security and unity.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria remain resolute in dismantling all criminal and terrorist networks threatening the peace, stability and unity of the nation,” the military said.
The clarification follows recent attacks in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where armed attackers invaded Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle, abducting pupils, teachers and other residents.
The attack reportedly left several persons dead and sparked widespread outrage across the country.
One of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was later confirmed dead after a video linked to the incident surfaced online.
