The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) on Tuesday disclosed that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has ordered an extensive military reinforcement operation in Oyo State following the abduction of teachers and schoolchildren by terrorists.
The Defence Headquarters said the military would deploy advanced aerial surveillance platforms and specialised ground forces to flush out the perpetrators and restore security across the South West region.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, assured Nigerians that the Armed Forces remained fully committed to dismantling terrorist and criminal networks threatening peace and stability across the country.
He revealed that troops operating in various theatres nationwide neutralised 317 terrorists and arrested 314 others in May 2026 alone. According to him, troops also rescued 221 kidnapped civilians during the period, while 18 terrorists surrendered to military forces.
Major General Onoja further disclosed that troops recovered 21,910 litres of assorted petroleum products from economic saboteurs operating in the Niger Delta region.
Speaking on the recent kidnapping incident in Oyo State, the Defence spokesperson said the Armed Forces considered every attack on civilians as a direct assault on Nigeria’s sovereignty and national security.
“The Defence Headquarters explicitly acknowledges the recent kidnapping incident reported within Oyo State. The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, extends his heartfelt sympathy and solidarity to the affected families, the government and good people of Oyo State, reaffirming that the AFN views any threat to civilian peace as an intolerable affront to national sovereignty,” he stated.
He added that the CDS had immediately directed a comprehensive reinforcement of security operations within the affected area.
“In immediate response, the CDS has directed a comprehensive security reinforcement across the general area, utilizing advanced aerial surveillance assets and mobilizing specialized ground forces in close coordination with state authorities. Proactive operational steps are already yielding valuable intelligence, and troops will maintain a relentless posture until the perpetrators are brought to account and the region’s security is completely restored,” he said.
Giving a breakdown of military operations conducted nationwide, Major General Onoja said troops of Operation HADIN KAI recorded significant successes against Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists across Adamawa, Borno, Taraba and Yobe States.
He disclosed that troops neutralised 73 insurgents, arrested 159 suspects, rescued 112 civilians and received the surrender of 18 terrorists during the operations.
According to him, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA also sustained aggressive offensives against terrorists operating in Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara States, killing 24 insurgents, arresting 13 others and rescuing 22 kidnapped civilians.
In the North Central region, he stated that troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD carried out successful clearance and interdiction operations across Kwara and Niger States, neutralising two insurgents, arresting 12 suspects and rescuing 24 civilians.
He further explained that troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE recorded major breakthroughs across Plateau, Bauchi, the Federal Capital Territory, Kaduna and Nasarawa States, where nine terrorists were neutralised, 36 suspects arrested and 15 civilians rescued.
Major General Onoja also disclosed that troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE sustained pressure on kidnapping syndicates and armed criminal groups across Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba States, neutralising six terrorists, arresting 20 others and rescuing 13 civilians.
On operations in the Niger Delta, the Defence spokesman said troops of Operation DELTA SAFE intensified offensives against oil thieves and economic saboteurs across Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers States.
He stated that 14 suspects were arrested, three illegal refining sites destroyed, while troops recovered 21,910 litres of stolen petroleum products.
In the South East, he disclosed that troops of Operation UDO KA maintained sustained pressure on the proscribed IPOB/ESN terrorist network across Abia, Anambra and Ebonyi States.
According to him, troops neutralised three terrorists, arrested 60 suspects and rescued 18 civilians during the operations.
Speaking on the Armed Forces’ non-kinetic engagements, Major General Onoja said the Nigerian Air Force intensified civil-military cooperation initiatives in Maiduguri through a comprehensive medical outreach programme conducted in collaboration with humanitarian and security partners.
He explained that the programme provided free medical consultations, dental and eye care services, medications and specialist referrals to hundreds of residents.
The Defence spokesperson also revealed that troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA donated 400 bags of fertiliser to farming communities in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State on 13 May 2026 to support agricultural production and food security.
He said local government officials and traditional authorities commended the military’s intervention, describing it as timely support for communities battling insecurity and rising farming costs.
Major General Onoja maintained that the operational achievements recorded across all theatres of operation clearly demonstrated the Armed Forces’ growing combat effectiveness, operational coordination and determination to decisively confront every threat to national security.
