… assures residents of intensified operations as troops step up surveillance and rescue efforts
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has ordered the deployment of special forces and aerial surveillance assets to Oyo State following recent kidnapping incidents in the state.
The military assured residents that troops would sustain aggressive operations until those behind the attacks are apprehended and security is fully restored in the affected areas.
Speaking during a briefing on military operations for May 2026, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Michael Onoja, said the Armed Forces of Nigeria sympathised with victims, families, and residents affected by the incidents in Oyo State.
According to him, the Defence Headquarters views threats to civilian peace and security as unacceptable and has moved swiftly to strengthen operations in the state.
Onoja stated that the CDS approved comprehensive security reinforcements involving advanced aerial surveillance platforms and specialised ground troops working in collaboration with relevant state authorities.
He added that ongoing military operations were already generating useful intelligence and that troops would maintain a relentless operational posture until the perpetrators are brought to justice.
The Defence Headquarters also released operational statistics for May 2026, revealing that troops arrested 314 suspects, neutralised 118 terrorists, and rescued 221 kidnapped civilians across different theatres of operation nationwide.
The military further disclosed that 18 terrorists surrendered within the period, while troops recovered 93 arms, dismantled three illegal refining sites, and recovered 21,910 litres of assorted petroleum products.
The Defence Headquarters described operational performances recorded between March and May as mixed, noting reductions in the number of terrorists killed and arms recovered, but increases in arrests, civilian rescues, and terrorist surrenders.
The CDS commended troops for their professionalism and tactical efforts while urging commanders to sustain the momentum and prioritise civilian protection and troop welfare. He also appealed to Nigerians to continue supporting security agencies with credible intelligence.
On May 15, armed men abducted 39 students and seven teachers from the Ahoro Esinle community in Oriire Local Government Area. One of the teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly beheaded during the attack.
The Defence Headquarters later linked the attackers to dislodged Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad terrorists.
Days after the incident, gunmen also kidnapped two staff members of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria in Ibadan, further raising security concerns across the state.