The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has ordered the deployment of special forces and aerial surveillance drones to Oyo State in response to a series of kidnappings. This follows the abduction of 39 students and seven teachers from Ahoro Esinele community in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15. During that attack, teacher Michael Oyedokun was beheaded. The Defence Headquarters confirmed the perpetrators were dislodging JAS terrorists.
A second kidnapping occurred in Ibadan, where two staff members of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria were taken by gunmen. Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, said the Armed Forces acknowledged the incidents and expressed sympathy to affected families, the state government and residents.
Oluyede directed comprehensive security reinforcement using advanced aerial surveillance platforms and specialised ground troops. These forces are operating in coordination with state authorities. Onoja stated that proactive operations have generated valuable intelligence and troops would maintain a relentless posture until perpetrators are apprehended.
Nationwide military operations in May 2026 led to the arrest of 314 suspects, killing of 118 terrorists, rescue of 221 kidnapped civilians, and surrender of 18 terrorists. Troops also recovered 93 arms, dismantled three illegal refining sites and seized 21,910 litres of petroleum products. The Defence Headquarters described the operational performance for March to May as mixed, noting fewer terrorists neutralised but more arrests and rescues.
Oluyede commended troops for their "gallantry, tactical ingenuity and professionalism" and urged commanders to sustain momentum while prioritising welfare and civilian protection. He called on Nigerians to provide timely, credible intelligence, citing community collaboration as key to recent successes.
General Oluyede demands relentless military action in Oyo while his forces report declining numbers of terrorists killed and arms recovered over the past three months. The same period saw rising arrests and surrenders, suggesting a shift in tactics rather than a decisive gain. His call for public intelligence support gains urgency when two high-profile abductions occur in one state within days. The presence of dislodging JAS terrorists in Oyo raises questions about the group's expanding reach beyond traditional zones.
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