By Augustine Ehikioya
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, on behalf of the Armed Forces of Nigeria has extended his deepest sympathies to the families of the victims, the government and people of Oyo State, and the entire nation over the deeply painful and unconscionable attack on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele; and L.A. Primary School, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
General Oluyede described the abduction of innocent children and staffs as a callous and reprehensible act that strikes at the heart of every Nigerian, and assured grieving families that the full weight of the Armed Forces of Nigeria is being brought to bear to ensure the safe and unconditional return of every abducted victim.
The Chief of Defence Staff, in a statement by Major General Michael Onoja, Director Defence Media Operations, and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA), further called on all Nigerians to remain calm, united, and cooperate with security forces during this critical period of operations.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to categorically address recent media reports and public speculation suggesting that terrorist elements have established a permanent operational base within the South West geo-political zone of Nigeria, particularly following the attack in Oyo State.
“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, as the Armed Forces had earlier conducted a comprehensive clearance operation of the Old Oyo National Park (OONP), effectively neutralising the operational capacity of criminal elements within that corridor.
“Current intelligence assessments do not support the conclusion that any structured or permanent terrorist base exists within the forests or hinterlands of the South West region.
“Criminal elements, however audacious their recent activities, do not constitute an established insurgent presence, and the Defence Headquarters cautions against narratives that may cause unnecessary public panic or embolden adversaries by overstating their capabilities.”
The Defence Headquarters also assured all Nigerians, particularly residents of the South West, that own troops are currently deployed and actively operating within the forest in pursuit of the perpetrators and in search of the abducted 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. Working in close coordination with relevant security agencies, the Armed Forces is conducting intensive joint operations across forest corridors and ungoverned spaces in the zone.
“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.
“The joint effort with all security agencies and local vigilantes will ensure that the forest is thoroughly cleared of criminal elements and that lasting peace is restored to the region.”
The statement stressed that the Armed Forces of Nigeria will not relent until every abducted victim is safely recovered, the criminal networks responsible dismantled, and normalcy is fully restored across the South West and indeed all of Nigeria.
