The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed claims that terrorist groups have established a permanent operational base in Nigeria’s South-West region. This clarification follows the recent abduction of students and staff from three schools in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
In a statement signed Tuesday by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, the military described the school raids as an “isolated criminal act” rather than evidence of an entrenched terrorist network. The DHQ cautioned against media narratives that could cause public panic or overstate the capabilities of the criminals.
According to the military, recent intelligence assessments show no structured insurgent presence in the region’s forests, attributing this to a previous comprehensive clearance operation in the Old Oyo National Park that neutralized criminal elements in the area.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, expressed deep sympathies to the victims’ families and the Oyo State government. He assured the public that the military is deploying its full weight to ensure the safe and unconditional release of the abductees.
Major General Onoja revealed that troops deployed to the forests made contact with the criminals two days ago and have reorganized for an intensive pursuit. The military is currently conducting joint operations across forest corridors alongside other security agencies and local vigilantes.
The DHQ urged residents to remain calm and assist security forces with timely human intelligence to aid the ongoing rescue operations.
