…vows to sustain offensive action against fleeing terrorists
By AGATHA N UJU, Correspondent, Abuja
Nigeria military authorities may have unmasked the perpetrators of the recent mass abduction of pupils and teachers of three schools in Oyo State, in the South West of Nigeria.
The military categorically said on Thursday, “The recent incidence of kidnap 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”.
Terrorists invaded Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele; and L.A. Primary School, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, abducting about 45 children, including a two and a half child and their teachers on Friday, May 15, sparking outrage
In a statement to clarify what it described as “mischievous and misleading publication misrepresenting comments credited to the Defence Headquarters regarding the classification of terrorists and criminal elements operating within the South West of the country,” the Nigerian military firmly stated “at no time did the Defence Headquarters undermine the authority of any democratically elected leader or sought to diminish the gravity of the heinous crime committed against innocent citizens by terrorist elements”. In the statement issued by the Director, Defence Media Operation, Major General Michael Onoja, the military maintains, “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. The recent incidence of kidnap 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”.
