The Defence Headquarters has announced the deployment of special forces and aerial surveillance assets to Oyo State following recent kidnapping incidents recorded in parts of the state.
The military said the operation was ordered by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, as part of efforts to rescue victims, track down the kidnappers, and restore security in affected communities.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major-General Michael Onoja, disclosed the development during a press briefing held at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to him, the Armed Forces of Nigeria consider the attacks a serious threat to national security and the safety of civilians.
The latest deployment follows the abduction of 39 students and seven teachers from Ahoro Esinele community in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15.
One of the teachers, identified as Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly killed during the attack, heightening concerns over insecurity in the area.
Military authorities had earlier revealed that the attackers were suspected members of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, a faction linked to Boko Haram insurgents displaced from the North-East region.
Speaking on the development, Onoja said the Chief of Defence Staff had directed an immediate reinforcement of security operations through the deployment of advanced surveillance platforms and specialised troops working closely with state authorities.
“In immediate response, the CDS directed a comprehensive security reinforcement across the general area, utilising advanced aerial surveillance assets and mobilising specialised ground forces in close coordination with state authorities,” he said.
He added that ongoing operations had already generated useful intelligence, while troops remained committed to pursuing the perpetrators until all victims are rescued and normalcy restored.
The defence spokesperson also extended sympathy to the affected families, the government, and residents of Oyo State, assuring them that security agencies would continue to intensify operations against criminal groups.
Onoja further commended troops operating across various theatres in the country for their professionalism and dedication, urging them to sustain the momentum in ongoing counter-terrorism and anti-kidnapping operations.
He appealed to Nigerians to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible intelligence, stressing that public cooperation remains essential in the fight against insecurity nationwide.
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