The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said the recent abduction in Oyo State was carried out by terrorists displaced from other parts of the country following intensified military operations.

The military high command stated this while reacting to what it described as “mischievous and misleading publications” over its comments on terrorists and criminal elements operating in the South-West.

In a statement signed by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, the DHQ, said the attackers were members of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad terrorist group.

The DHQ said the group had been dislodged from other parts of the country as a result of sustained military offensives.

“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,” the statement read.

The military denied reports suggesting that it described terrorists operating in the South-West as ordinary criminals.

“It is, therefore, inaccurate and misleading to suggest that the Defence Headquarters, at any point, referred to vicious and violent terrorists as criminals,” Onoja stated.

The Defence Headquarters said its earlier clarification on security developments in the South-West was meant to provide an intelligence-based context.