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The Defence Headquarters has rejected claims that it sought to undermine the gravity of a recent school kidnapping in Oyo State, insisting that the attack was carried out by “terrorists of the JAS Group” and not mere criminals.
In a statement on Thursday, Major General Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, described a publication misrepresenting the military’s comments as “mischievous and misleading.”
“The clarification issued by the Defence Headquarters was solely to provide an intelligence-based context regarding the security in the South West, in order to prevent misinformation and public panic,” Onoja said.
He said the recent kidnapping incident in Oyo State was “clearly perpetrated by terrorists of the JAS Group that have been dislodged from other parts of the country due to high intensity operations being conducted all over.”
“It is therefore inaccurate and misleading to suggest that the Defence Headquarters, at any point, referred to vicious and violent terrorists as criminals,” Onoja said.
He reaffirmed that the armed forces remain “fully committed to supporting constitutional governance, protecting democratic institutions and working collaboratively with all levels of government to safeguard the nation.”
Onoja said troops remain actively deployed across affected areas in coordination with other security agencies and local stakeholders.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria remains resolute in dismantling all criminal and terrorist networks threatening the peace, stability and unity of the nation,” he added.
JAS, which stands for Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, is the original Boko Haram faction that has operated in Nigeria since 2002.
DEFENCE HEADQUARTERS CLARIFIES MISCHIEVIOUS REPORTS, VOWS TO SUSTAIN OFFENSIVE ACTION AGAINST FLEEING TERRORISTS
The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to a mischievous and misleading publication misrepresenting comments credited to the Defence Headquarters… pic.twitter.com/UKllAP7fL5
— DEFENCE HQ NIGERIA (@DHQNigeria) May 21, 2026
