The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has linked the recent kidnap incident in Oyo State to members of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) terrorist group, saying the attackers were displaced from other regions following intensified military offensives across the country.
In a statement issued by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, the military said the abduction was carried out by terrorists who had been forced out of their previous strongholds due to sustained operations by security forces.
According to the DHQ, the Oyo attack was perpetrated by “terrorists of the JAS group” who relocated after being dislodged by ongoing nationwide military campaigns aimed at dismantling insurgent networks.
The military also rejected reports suggesting it had described terrorist elements operating in the South-West as ordinary criminals, insisting such interpretations misrepresented its earlier comments.
Onoja stated that the military never downplayed the threat posed by violent groups and maintained that its earlier remarks were intended to provide intelligence-based context and prevent misinformation and panic among residents.
The DHQ further reiterated its commitment to safeguarding democratic institutions and supporting constitutional governance, stressing that it had no intention of undermining elected leaders or minimising the severity of attacks carried out by terrorist groups.
It added that troops remain deployed across affected areas in collaboration with other security agencies and local stakeholders to dismantle criminal and terrorist networks threatening national security.
The clarification followed the attack on Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where terrorists abducted pupils, teachers and residents. The incident also resulted in fatalities, including abducted teacher Michael Oyedokun, who was later confirmed dead after a video linked to the attack surfaced online.
