The Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, has ordered the deployment of special forces and aerial surveillance assets to Oyo State following a series of kidnapping incidents that have heightened security tensions in the state.
The Defence Headquarters said the move is part of a wider reinforcement strategy aimed at restoring order and tracking armed groups behind recent abductions.
Speaking in Abuja during a monthly briefing on military operations, Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, said troops had been directed to intensify operations in the affected areas in collaboration with state authorities.
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He said the military “acknowledges the recent kidnapping incident” in Oyo and sympathises with victims, their families and residents.
According to him, the CDS has approved the use of advanced aerial surveillance platforms alongside specialised ground forces to improve intelligence gathering and operational response.
“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,” Onoja said.
He added that ongoing operations were already producing actionable intelligence, with troops maintaining sustained pressure on criminal elements.
The Defence Headquarters also released figures for military operations in May 2026, saying troops arrested 314 suspects, killed 118 terrorists and rescued 221 kidnapped persons across various theatres.
It added that 18 terrorists surrendered during the period, while arms and illicit petroleum products were recovered in multiple operations nationwide.
The military described its performance across March, April and May as mixed, noting improvements in arrests, civilian rescues and surrenders, but a decline in neutralised targets and arms recovery.
The CDS commended troops for what he called their “gallantry and professionalism,” while urging commanders to prioritise civilian protection and troop welfare.
He also appealed to Nigerians to support ongoing security operations with credible intelligence, saying community cooperation remains critical to success.
The deployment follows recent violent incidents in Oyo, including the abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, where one teacher was killed during the attack and another reportedly died in captivity.
Security agencies later linked the attackers to displaced JAS elements from the North-East, suggesting continued movement of armed groups into new territories.
Another kidnapping incident in Ibadan, involving staff of a federal agricultural research institute, has further heightened concern over rising insecurity in the state.
