The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, has ordered an immediate and comprehensive security response following the reported kidnapping incident involving schoolchildren in Oyo State.
This was disclosed by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, during the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s May 2026 operational briefing at Defence Headquarters on Wednesday in Abuja.
Maj. Gen. Onoja stated that the CDS described the incident as a serious threat to civilian safety and national security, while extending sympathy to the affected families and the government and people of Oyo State.
He said the CDS immediately directed intensified security reinforcement in the affected general area, including enhanced aerial surveillance operations and deployment of specialised ground forces in close coordination with relevant security agencies.
According to him, proactive intelligence-led operations have already commenced, with troops maintaining sustained pressure to track and apprehend the perpetrators of the kidnapping.
Maj. Gen. Onoja reaffirmed that the Armed Forces of Nigeria considers any attack on civilians an intolerable affront to national sovereignty and will not relent until the victims are rescued and the perpetrators brought to justice.
He also commended troops across all theatres for their sacrifices and urged Nigerians to continue supporting ongoing operations by providing timely and credible intelligence to security agencies.
