By Nkechi Eze
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed reports suggesting that terrorist groups have established a permanent operational base in Nigeria’s South West region, describing recent claims as exaggerated and capable of creating unnecessary public panic.
In an official signed statement by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, the Armed Forces of Nigeria said the recent abduction attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State was an isolated criminal act and not evidence of an entrenched insurgent structure in the region.
The statement noted that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, extended condolences to the families of victims, the government and people of Oyo State, following the attack on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele; and L.A. Primary School in Oriire Local Government Area.
General Oluyede described the abduction of innocent children and staff members as “a callous and reprehensible act that strikes at the heart of every Nigerian,” assuring affected families that the Armed Forces was deploying all available resources to secure the safe and unconditional return of the abducted victims.
He also urged Nigerians to remain calm, united, and cooperate with security agencies during the ongoing operations.
According to the DHQ, the Armed Forces had earlier conducted extensive clearance operations within the Old Oyo National Park corridor, successfully neutralising the operational capacity of criminal elements in 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 said.
The military further cautioned against narratives that could embolden criminal groups by overstating their capabilities.
The Defence Headquarters disclosed that troops are currently deployed across forest corridors and ungoverned spaces in the South West in pursuit of the perpetrators and in search of the abducted victims.
It revealed that troops had made contact with the criminal elements two days earlier and had since reorganised to sustain pursuit and rescue operations.
The statement added that the Armed Forces, working in close coordination with other security agencies and local vigilante groups, was intensifying joint operations across the region while also engaging local communities for actionable human intelligence.
“The joint effort with all security agencies and local vigilantes will ensure that the forest is thoroughly cleared of criminal elements and that lasting peace is restored to the region,” the DHQ stated.
The military reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safe recovery of all abducted victims, dismantling criminal networks, and restoring normalcy across the South West and other parts of the country.
