Oyo Kidnapping Carried Out by Dislodged JAS Terrorists — DHQ

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says the recent kidnapping incident in Oyo State was carried out by terrorists displaced from other parts of the country following intensified military operations.

The military high command made the clarification on Thursday while responding to what it described as “mischievous and misleading publications” concerning its earlier comments on the classification of armed groups operating in the South-West.

In a statement signed by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, the DHQ said the attackers behind the Oyo abduction were members of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) terrorist group, dislodged by sustained military offensives.

“The recent incidence of kidnapping 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 said.

The DHQ dismissed reports suggesting it had described terrorists operating in the South-West as ordinary criminals, insisting such interpretations were “inaccurate and misleading.”

“It is therefore inaccurate and misleading to suggest that the Defence Headquarters, at any point, referred to vicious and violent terrorists as criminals,” Maj.-Gen. Onoja said.

The military said its clarification was aimed at providing intelligence-based context to avoid misinformation and public panic, particularly following recent attacks in parts of Oyo State.

It added that troops remain deployed across affected areas in collaboration with other security agencies and local stakeholders to dismantle criminal and terrorist networks.

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

The clarification follows attacks in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where armed men abducted pupils, teachers and other residents from Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle. One teacher, identified as Michael Oyedokun, was later killed after a video linked to the incident surfaced online.

Source: Punch