The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has ordered the deployment of special forces and aerial surveillance assets to Oyo State following recent kidnappings and deadly attacks across parts of the state.
The military said troops would sustain aggressive operations until those responsible for the attacks are arrested and security fully restored in the affected communities.
Speaking during a briefing on military operations for May 2026, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said the Armed Forces of Nigeria sympathised with families affected by the recent wave of insecurity in Oyo State.
“The Defence Headquarters explicitly acknowledges the recent kidnapping incident reported within Oyo State. The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, extends his heartfelt sympathy and solidarity to the affected families, the government and good people of Oyo State,” Onoja said.
He stated that the military viewed attacks on civilians as a direct threat to national security and had already commenced coordinated operations in the area.
According to him, the CDS approved a comprehensive reinforcement of security operations involving aerial surveillance platforms and specialised ground troops working alongside state authorities and other security agencies.
“In immediate response, the CDS has directed a comprehensive security reinforcement across the general area, utilising advanced aerial surveillance assets and mobilising specialised ground forces in close coordination with state authorities,” he added.
Onoja disclosed that military operations were already producing useful intelligence and assured residents that troops would continue sustained offensives against the attackers.
“Proactive operational steps are already yielding valuable intelligence, and troops will maintain a relentless posture until the perpetrators are brought to account and the region’s security is completely restored,” he said.
The Defence Headquarters also released operational statistics for May, revealing that troops arrested 314 suspects, neutralised 118 terrorists and rescued 221 kidnapped victims across different theatres of operation nationwide.
The military further disclosed that 18 terrorists surrendered within the period, while troops recovered 93 firearms, dismantled three illegal refining sites and recovered 21,910 litres of petroleum products.
General Oluyede commended troops for their professionalism and sacrifices in various operations across the country, urging them to sustain the momentum while prioritising civilian safety and troop welfare.
The latest deployment followed the abduction of 39 students and seven teachers from Ahoro Esinele community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15.
One of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was later reportedly beheaded by the kidnappers in a disturbing video that sparked outrage nationwide.
Security concerns in Oyo deepened further after gunmen also abducted two staff members of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) in Ibadan.
