The military high command on Tuesday dismissed claims suggesting that terrorist groups have established a permanent operational base in the South-West region, following the recent abduction of pupils and staff members in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
According to a statement made available to Defence Correspondents in Abuja by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, described the attack on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele; and L.A. Primary School as “callous and reprehensible.”
The CDS expressed deep sympathy to the families of the victims, the government and people of Oyo State, and Nigerians at large over the incident, assuring that the Armed Forces of Nigeria were deploying all necessary resources to secure the safe return of the abducted victims.
The statement explained that General Oluyede urged Nigerians to remain calm, united, and supportive of security agencies during the ongoing operations.
The Defence Headquarters clarified that intelligence available to the military does not support reports of any entrenched terrorist infrastructure within the forests or hinterlands of the South-West region.
It pointed out that the Armed Forces had previously conducted extensive clearance operations within the Old Oyo National Park, neutralising criminal elements operating in the area and significantly degrading their operational capacity.
“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 further cautioned against narratives capable of creating panic among residents or exaggerating the strength and presence of criminal groups in the region.
It also disclosed that troops were currently conducting active operations within the forests in pursuit of the perpetrators and to rescue the abducted victims.
According to the statement, troops made contact with the criminal elements two days ago and have since reorganised to sustain the ongoing pursuit operations.
It further added that the operations were being carried out in collaboration with other security agencies, local vigilantes, and members of affected communities through intelligence-sharing efforts.
It assured Nigerians that security forces remained committed to dismantling criminal networks, clearing forest hideouts, and restoring lasting peace across the South-West and the country at large.
“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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