The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has
stated that the recent abduction in Oyo State was carried out by terrorists displaced from other regions due to intensified military operations across the country.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, described reports suggesting otherwise as “mischievous and misleading.”
According to the DHQ, the attackers were members of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), a terrorist group that has been dislodged from its former strongholds by sustained offensives of the Armed Forces.
“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 military high command also refuted claims that it had downplayed terrorist activities in the South-West by describing perpetrators as mere criminals.
“It is inaccurate and misleading to suggest that the Defence Headquarters, at any point, referred to vicious and violent terrorists as criminals,” Onoja said.
The DHQ explained that its earlier comments were aimed at providing intelligence-based clarification to prevent misinformation and unnecessary panic among residents, adding that it did not undermine any elected official or diminish the severity of the attack.
“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,” the statement added.
The military further disclosed that troops have been deployed across affected areas in collaboration with other security agencies and local stakeholders to dismantle terrorist and criminal networks.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria remain resolute in dismantling all criminal and terrorist networks threatening the peace, stability and unity of the nation,” it stated.
The clarification follows recent attacks in Oriire Local Government Area, where armed terrorists reportedly abducted pupils, teachers and residents at Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle. The incident also left several persons dead.
One of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was later confirmed killed after a video linked to the attack surfaced online.
No comments:
Post a Comment