KEY POINTS

• The Defence Headquarters says the kidnappers behind the Oyo school attack are displaced JAS terrorists fleeing military offensives in other parts of Nigeria.
• The military denied claims that it downplayed terrorism in the South-West, insisting it remains committed to combating insecurity nationwide.
• Security agencies have launched joint rescue operations after armed men attacked schools in Oyo State, killing a teacher and abducting pupils and staff members.

The Defence Headquarters has stated that the armed men responsible for the recent abduction of teachers and pupils in Oyo State are terrorists linked to the Boko Haram Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) faction who were displaced from other parts of the country by ongoing military offensives.

The military also dismissed reports suggesting that it had downplayed the growing insecurity and terrorist activities in the South-West region, describing such interpretations as misleading and mischievous.

In a statement issued by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Michael Onoja, the military insisted that the Armed Forces of Nigeria had never described terrorists operating in the South-West as ordinary criminals.

According to the Defence Headquarters, its earlier comments on the security situation were intended to provide proper intelligence-based clarification and prevent unnecessary panic among residents.

The Defence Headquarters explained that intensified military operations across different regions of the country have forced several terrorist groups and criminal gangs out of their former strongholds.

According to the military, some of these fleeing terrorists are now attempting to establish hideouts in new locations, including parts of the South-West.

The DHQ specifically linked the Oyo school abduction to members of the JAS faction who were allegedly displaced by sustained counterterrorism operations carried out by troops nationwide.

The military stated that security agencies are actively tracking the movement of the fleeing terrorists and working closely with local communities and other security organisations to prevent further attacks.

Authorities further assured Nigerians that troops remain deployed across vulnerable communities while pressure continues on terrorist networks threatening national peace and stability.

Military Reaffirms Commitment to National Security

The Defence Headquarters stressed that the Armed Forces remain committed to defending democratic institutions, protecting citizens, and collaborating with state governments to tackle insecurity across the country.

The military maintained that it had not in any way attempted to undermine elected officials or minimise the seriousness of attacks on civilians in the South-West.

It added that ongoing operations are aimed at dismantling terrorist cells and criminal groups regardless of where they operate within the country.

The statement comes amid rising public anxiety over increasing cases of kidnappings and attacks in parts of the South-West, particularly in rural communities.

The military’s clarification follows a recent attack on schools in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where armed men reportedly stormed educational institutions and abducted teachers, pupils, and other staff members.

Reports indicated that the attackers invaded LA Primary School and Community Grammar School in the Ahoro-Esiele community, killing a teacher during the assault before whisking several victims away.

The attack triggered widespread outrage and renewed concerns about the safety of schools, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.

The incident also drew attention after disturbing videos allegedly recorded by the kidnappers surfaced online, showing some abducted victims pleading for urgent rescue.

One of the victims, identified as a nursing mother and staff member of the First Baptist Church in Ogbomosho, emotionally appealed to government authorities, church leaders, and community members to intervene and secure their release.

In the emotional video, she pleaded for assistance, saying the abductees urgently needed help before the situation worsened.

Another victim, Mrs. Racheal Alamu, who serves as the principal of Community High School, Esiele, also appeared in a separate video calling on Nigerians and authorities to intensify rescue efforts.

The emotional appeals from the victims heightened public fears and intensified calls for stronger security around schools and communities.