The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said it would contbine to advance air surveillance technology with ground troops to rescue victims kidnapped in Oyo State.
According to the military, the deployment of special forces and advanced aerial surveillance assets to Oyo State operation was ordered by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, as part of renewed efforts to rescue the abducted victims, arrest those responsible and restore peace in the affected communities.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this during a press briefing held at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, stated that the Armed Forces of Nigeria consider the incident a serious threat to national security and the safety of citizens.
The latest action follows the May 15 abduction of 39 students and seven teachers from the Ahoro Esinele community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. Reports also revealed that one of the teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was killed during the attack.
The DHQ had earlier linked the attackers to suspected members of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), a Boko Haram faction believed to have relocated from the North-East region. Speaking on the development, Onoja expressed sympathy to the victims, their families and residents of Oyo State, assuring Nigerians that security agencies are intensifying operations to tackle the situation.
He added that the military would combine advanced air surveillance technology with specialised ground troops in collaboration with state authorities to track down the kidnappers and strengthen security across the affected areas.
