The Defence Headquarters on Tuesday said troops involved in search-and-rescue operations have made contact with the abductors of pupils and teachers kidnapped in Oyo State.
The military also dismissed reports that terrorist groups have established permanent operational bases in the South-West, describing the recent attacks in the state as isolated criminal incidents.
The development followed ongoing operations after the abduction of pupils and staff from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele; and L.A. Primary School in Oriire Local Government Area.
In a statement, the Director of Defence Media Relations, Michael Onoja, said the Armed Forces was deploying “the full weight” of its operational capacity to rescue the victims.
“Troops made contact with the criminal elements two days ago, have since reorganised, and are continuing the search and pursuit operations with full determination,” he said.
According to him, troops are working with other security agencies in “intensive joint operations across forest corridors and ungoverned spaces in the zone.”
He added that troops were already deployed in the forests and actively pursuing the abductors while searching for the kidnapped victims.
Onoja said local residents were also assisting security operatives with intelligence gathering.
“The Armed Forces is equally engaging the local populace for human intelligence, recognising that community cooperation remains an invaluable asset in the effort to recover the abducted victims safely and swiftly,” he stated.
He further said collaboration between security agencies and local vigilantes would help clear the forests of criminal elements and restore peace to the region.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria will not relent until every abducted victim is safely recovered, the criminal networks responsible are dismantled, and normalcy is fully restored across the South West and indeed all of Nigeria,” he added.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, sympathised with the families of the victims and assured Nigerians that efforts were ongoing to secure the safe return of those abducted.
The statement described the attack on the schools as “a callous and reprehensible act that strikes at the heart of every Nigerian.”
Oluyede also appealed to Nigerians to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies during the operations.
Reacting to reports about terrorist bases in the South-West, Onoja said the military had earlier carried out clearance operations in the Old Oyo National Park, which weakened criminal activities in the area.
“It is pertinent to state that the incident was an isolated criminal act and does not reflect the existence of any entrenched terrorist structure in the region,” he said.
He noted that current intelligence did not support claims that there were structured or permanent terrorist bases in the forests or hinterlands of the South-West.
Onoja stressed that although criminal groups had carried out recent attacks, they did not amount to an established insurgent presence.
He warned against narratives that could create unnecessary panic or exaggerate the strength of criminal elements.
