Nigeria’s military has attributed the recent kidnapping incident in Oyo State to members of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), describing them as insurgents pushed out of their previous strongholds by ongoing military operations.
In a statement issued by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Michael Onoja, the Defence Headquarters clarified that the attackers were not ordinary criminals but part of a known terrorist network that has been weakened and displaced due to sustained offensives across the country.
The military also rejected reports suggesting it had downplayed terrorist activities in the South-West, insisting that such claims were inaccurate and misrepresented its position. According to the statement, earlier communications were meant to provide context and prevent unnecessary panic, not to reclassify violent groups.
The incident occurred in parts of Oyo State where armed attackers targeted a school community, leading to abductions and fatalities. Authorities noted that security forces remain actively engaged in tracking and dismantling these groups, working alongside other agencies and local stakeholders.
The Defence Headquarters reaffirmed that the Armed Forces are committed to safeguarding citizens and maintaining national stability, emphasizing that operations will continue until terrorist and criminal networks are fully neutralised.
