DHQ: Terrorists Displaced By Military Operations Responsible For Oyo Kidnap Attack

The Defence Headquarters has revealed that the recent kidnap incident in Oyo State was carried out by terrorists displaced from other parts of the country following intensified military operations.

According to the military high command, the attackers behind the abduction in Oyo were members of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) terrorist group who allegedly fled to other regions after sustained offensives by Nigerian troops.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, the military dismissed reports claiming the Defence Headquarters referred to terrorists operating in the South-West as ordinary criminals.

The DHQ described such reports as “misleading and mischievous,” insisting that the military has never downplayed the threat posed by violent terrorist groups.

“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 read.

The military explained that its earlier comments on security concerns in the South-West were intended to provide intelligence-based clarification and avoid unnecessary panic among residents.

The clarification comes after armed terrorists reportedly attacked communities in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, abducting pupils, teachers, and residents from Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle.

The incident reportedly left several persons dead, while one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was later confirmed killed after a disturbing video linked to the attack surfaced online.

The Defence Headquarters assured Nigerians that troops remain actively deployed across affected areas in collaboration with other security agencies and local stakeholders to track down terrorist networks and restore security.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria remain resolute in dismantling all criminal and terrorist networks threatening the peace, stability and unity of the nation,” the statement added.

The latest development has renewed concerns over the spread of terrorist activities beyond the North-East, with many Nigerians calling for stronger security measures across the country.

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