The Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, has ordered the deployment of special forces and enhanced aerial surveillance operations to Oyo State following recent kidnapping attacks recorded in parts of the state.
The military also assured residents that security operations would continue aggressively until those behind the attacks are apprehended and stability is fully restored.
Speaking during a media briefing on Tuesday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Michael Onoja, said the Armed Forces of Nigeria sympathised with families affected by the incidents, as well as the Oyo State Government and residents of the state.
According to him, the Defence Headquarters considers threats to civilian safety and public peace as serious challenges to national security.
Onoja disclosed that the Chief of Defence Staff had directed a large-scale reinforcement of security operations in the affected areas through the deployment of advanced surveillance platforms and specialised ground troops working alongside relevant state authorities.
He explained that ongoing operations had already generated useful intelligence and that troops would sustain pressure on criminal elements until those responsible for the kidnappings are brought to justice.
The military also released its operational report for May 2026, revealing that troops arrested 314 suspects, neutralised 118 terrorists, and rescued 221 kidnapped victims across different parts of the country.
According to the report, 18 terrorists surrendered during the period, while troops recovered 93 weapons, dismantled three illegal refining sites, and seized over 21,000 litres of petroleum products.
The Defence Headquarters described its overall operational performance for March, April, and May as mixed, noting a decline in the number of terrorists killed and arms recovered, but an increase in arrests, civilian rescues, and surrendering insurgents.
Oluyede commended military personnel for their professionalism, courage, and operational discipline across various theatres of operation.
He also urged commanders to maintain the momentum while prioritising the welfare of troops and the protection of civilians during operations.
In addition, the military appealed to Nigerians to continue supporting security agencies with credible and timely intelligence, stressing that public cooperation remains critical to ongoing security efforts.
The latest deployment follows a series of violent incidents in Oyo State, including the abduction of 39 students and seven teachers in the Ahoro Esinele community of Oriire Local Government Area on May 15.
During the attack, a teacher identified as Adegboye Adesiyan was killed, while another teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly murdered while in captivity.
The Defence Headquarters later stated that the attackers were linked to JAS terrorist elements displaced from the North-East region.
Amid growing concerns over insecurity, gunmen also reportedly abducted two staff members of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria in Ibadan, further heightening tension across the state.
