The Defence Headquarters has dismissed claims of an entrenched terrorist presence in the Southwest, describing the Oyo school abductions as an isolated criminal act while assuring Nigerians that troops are actively pursuing the perpetrators.
The military high command has rejected suggestions that terrorist groups have established a permanent operational base in the Southwest, following the abduction of pupils and staff from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
In a statement by Director of Defence Media Operations Major General Michael Onoja, Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluyede described the attack as “callous and reprehensible,” while stressing that military intelligence does not support reports of entrenched terrorist infrastructure in the region’s forests or hinterlands.
“It clarified that the incident was an isolated criminal act and does not reflect the existence of any entrenched terrorist structure in the region,” the statement noted.
The DHQ disclosed that troops made contact with the criminal elements two days ago and have since reorganised to sustain pursuit operations in collaboration with other security agencies, local vigilantes and community members. “The Armed Forces of Nigeria will not relent until every abducted victim is safely recovered and normalcy fully restored,” it added.
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