Oyo Kidnap Carried Out by Dislodged JAS Terrorists — DHQ

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said the recent kidnap incident in Oyo State was carried out by terrorists belonging to the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) group who were displaced from other parts of the country following intensified military operations.

The military high command made the clarification on Thursday while reacting to reports surrounding comments credited to the Defence Headquarters on the classification of armed groups operating in the South-West.

In a statement signed by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, the DHQ described some reports as misleading and inaccurate.

According to the statement, the attackers behind the abduction in Oyo State were members of the JAS terrorist group who had relocated after being forced out of their former strongholds by ongoing military offensives across the country.

“The recent incidence of kidnap in Oyo State was clearly perpetrated by terrorists of the JAS Group that have been dislodged from other parts of the country due to high-intensity operations being conducted all over,” the statement read.

The Defence Headquarters denied reports suggesting it had referred to terrorists operating in the South-West as ordinary criminals, insisting that such interpretations misrepresented its position.

“It is inaccurate and misleading to suggest that the Defence Headquarters, at any point, referred to vicious and violent terrorists as criminals,” Onoja stated.

The military explained that its earlier comments on security developments in the South-West were intended to provide context based on intelligence assessments and prevent misinformation capable of creating panic among residents.

The DHQ also stressed that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remained committed to supporting constitutional governance and protecting democratic institutions across the country.

“At no time did the Defence Headquarters undermine the authority of any democratically elected leader or seek to diminish the gravity of the heinous crime committed against innocent citizens by terrorist elements,” the statement added.

The clarification followed recent attacks in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where armed terrorists reportedly abducted pupils, teachers, and residents from Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle.

The attack reportedly left several persons dead, while one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was later killed after a video linked to the incident surfaced online.

The military added that troops remain actively deployed across affected areas in collaboration with other security agencies to dismantle terrorist and criminal networks threatening national peace and stability.