Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters has said that the recent kidnapping incident in Oyo State was carried out by members of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad group who were 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 misleading reports surrounding its earlier comments on the classification of terrorist and criminal elements operating in the South-West.
In a statement signed by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Michael Onoja, the Defence Headquarters said the attackers responsible for the Oyo abduction were terrorists displaced by sustained military offensives across the country.
“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 DHQ dismissed interpretations suggesting it had referred to terrorists operating in the South-West as ordinary criminals, describing such claims as inaccurate.
“It is, therefore, 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 clarification was intended to provide intelligence-based context to security developments in the South-West and prevent misinformation and public panic.
It added that the Armed Forces remained committed to supporting constitutional governance and protecting democratic institutions across the country.
“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 further said troops were still actively deployed in affected areas in collaboration with other security agencies and local stakeholders to dismantle terrorist and criminal networks threatening national security.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria remain resolute in dismantling all criminal and terrorist networks threatening the peace, stability and unity of the nation,” it said.
The clarification follows recent attacks in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where armed assailants abducted pupils, teachers and other residents from Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle.
One of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was later executed by the terrorists in a most gruesome manner sparking nationwide outrage.
