The Defence Headquarters has dismissed reports claiming that terrorist groups have established a permanent operational base in Nigeria’s South-West region following the recent abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, described the attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of the state as an isolated criminal incident rather than evidence of an entrenched terrorist presence.
The affected schools include Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele; and L.A. Primary School.
The military said the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, sympathised with the families of the victims, the Oyo State Government and Nigerians over the incident, describing the abduction as “callous and reprehensible.”
According to the DHQ, security forces have deployed resources and intensified operations to secure the unconditional release of the abducted victims and apprehend those behind the attack.
The statement added that previous clearance operations carried out in the Old Oyo National Park had significantly weakened criminal elements operating within the area.
“Current intelligence assessments do not support the conclusion that any structured or permanent terrorist base exists within the forests or hinterlands of the South-West region,” the statement noted.
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The military also disclosed that troops had already made contact with the suspected kidnappers and were sustaining pursuit operations in collaboration with other security agencies, local vigilantes and community informants.
The Defence Headquarters urged residents of the South-West to remain calm and continue cooperating with security agencies, assuring Nigerians that efforts were ongoing to dismantle criminal networks operating in the region.
