The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced the deployment of special forces and advanced aerial surveillance technology to Oyo State following recent kidnapping attacks in parts of the state.
According to the military, the operation was ordered by the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, as part of renewed efforts to rescue abducted victims, arrest the attackers, and restore security in the affected communities.
Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja, Director of Defence Media Operations, Michael Onoja, stated that the Armed Forces consider the attacks a serious threat to national security and public safety.
According to the DHQ:
“We would combine advanced air surveillance technology with ground troops to rescue k+dn@pped victims in Oyo State.”
The latest security operation follows the May 15 abduction of 39 students and seven teachers from the Ahoro Esinele community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Reports also revealed that one of the teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly killed during the attack.
The Defence Headquarters further disclosed that preliminary intelligence linked the attackers to suspected members of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), a Boko Haram faction believed to have relocated from Nigeria’s North-East region.
During the briefing, the military expressed sympathy to the victims, their families, and residents affected by the attacks, assuring Nigerians that security agencies are intensifying operations to tackle insecurity in the area.
The DHQ also stated that the military would work alongside state authorities while combining specialised ground troops with modern surveillance systems to track down the kidnappers and improve security across affected communities.
