The Defence Headquarters has blamed the recent abduction of pupils, teachers and residents in Oyo State on terrorists displaced from other parts of the country following intensified military operations.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, described reports suggesting that the military classified terrorists operating in the South-West as ordinary criminals as “mischievous and misleading.”
According to the DHQ, the attackers responsible for the Oyo abduction were members of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) terrorist group who had been forced out of their former strongholds due to 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 military insisted that it never referred to violent terrorist groups as mere criminals, stressing that its earlier comments were intended to provide context on security developments in the South-West and prevent misinformation and panic.
“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 DHQ also reaffirmed the commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to protecting democratic institutions and supporting constitutional governance, adding that troops remained actively deployed in affected areas in collaboration with other security agencies and local stakeholders.
“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 clarification followed recent attacks on communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where armed men abducted pupils, teachers and other residents from Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle.
The attack reportedly left several persons dead, while one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was later killed after a video linked to the incident surfaced online.
The military said operations were ongoing to dismantle terrorist and criminal networks threatening peace and stability across the country.
