ABUJA, NIGERIA — In a direct federal response to the recent wave of violent abductions rocking the South-West, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has ordered the immediate deployment of specialized ground troops and high-tech aerial surveillance assets to Oyo State.
The military high command has vowed to maintain a relentless, aggressive posture in the region until the criminal networks are dismantled and all outstanding hostages are rescued.
The major security intervention was announced on Tuesday during a defense briefing in Abuja led by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja.
“The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, extends his heartfelt sympathy and solidarity to the affected families, the government, and the good people of Oyo State,” Onoja stated, emphasizing that the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) view “any threat to civilian peace as an intolerable affront to national sovereignty.”
The military’s new strategy shifts from reactive policing to active, intelligence-led containment. The Defence Headquarters confirmed that elite units are already working in close lockstep with Oyo State authorities to sweep vulnerable zones.
The military intervention follows back-to-back security breaches that have left local communities on edge:
Beyond the South-West theater, the Defence Headquarters released its comprehensive operational scorecard for the month of May 2026, showcasing extensive anti-banditry and counter-insurgency gains nationwide.
The military described overall performance across March, April, and May as mixed—noting a slight dip in total terrorists neutralized, but a significant, positive spike in civilian rescues and enemy surrenders.
General Oluyede concluded the briefing by praising frontline troops for their tactical ingenuity, while appealing directly to Oyo residents and the wider Nigerian public to continue feeding security agencies with timely, verified local intelligence.