Nigerian Military Says Kidnappers Of Oyo School Teachers, Pupils Are 'Terrorists Dislodged By Troops Nationwide'

The DHQ insisted that the Armed Forces of Nigeria never referred to terrorists operating in the South West as ordinary criminals, contrary to interpretations making the rounds in some reports.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said that terrorists responsible for the recent kidnapping incident in Oyo State were members of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) faction fleeing sustained military operations in other parts of the country, while also denying allegations that it downplayed terrorist activities in the South West.

In a statement signed by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, the military described reports suggesting it minimised the security threat in the region as “mischievous and misleading.”

The DHQ insisted that the Armed Forces of Nigeria never referred to terrorists operating in the South West as ordinary criminals, contrary to interpretations making the rounds in some reports.

According to the statement, the military’s earlier clarification on the security situation in the region was aimed at providing “intelligence-based context” and preventing misinformation and unnecessary panic among residents.