The Defence Headquarters has dismissed recent media reports and public speculation suggesting the establishment of a permanent terrorist base in Nigeria’s South West, described such claims as misleading and capable of causing unnecessary panic among citizens.
This clarification was made on behalf of the Armed Forces of Nigeria by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, following the recent abduction of pupils and staff from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
In a statement signed by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, the military extended condolences to the families of victims, the government, and people of Oyo State, assuring them of intensified efforts to secure the safe return of all abducted persons.
The Defence Headquarters described the attack on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele; and L.A. Primary School as “callous and reprehensible,” stressing that the Armed Forces is fully committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Reaffirming ongoing military activity in the area, the statement noted that troops are actively conducting search-and-rescue operations in surrounding forest corridors, added that contact had already been made with the criminal elements during earlier engagements. It said operations have since been reorganised and intensified in coordination with other security agencies.
The military also clarified that the Old Oyo National Park had previously undergone a comprehensive clearance operation, which significantly reduced the operational capacity of criminal groups in the area. It maintained that current intelligence does not support the existence of any entrenched or permanent terrorist structure in the South West.
While urging Nigerians to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies, the Defence Headquarters emphasized the importance of community support and intelligence sharing in ongoing operations.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria will not relent until every abducted victim is safely recovered, the criminal networks responsible are dismantled, and normalcy is restored,” the statement assured.
The military authorities further called on the public to avoid speculation that could embolden criminal elements or undermine ongoing security efforts across the region.
