Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters said that terrorist groups had not established permanent operational bases in the South-West, following concerns raised after a deadly attack in Oyo State.
The military said recent attacks in the region were isolated criminal incidents and did not indicate the presence of entrenched terrorist structures.
In a statement, Director of Defence Media Operations Major General Michael Onoja said the Armed Forces of Nigeria was responding to speculation triggered by the May 15 attack in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where gunmen abducted 25 students and seven teachers from three schools.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to categorically address recent media reports and public speculation suggesting that terrorist elements have established a permanent operational base within the South West geo-political zone,” Onoja said.
He added that previous clearance operations carried out in the Old Oyo National Park had significantly weakened criminal groups operating in the area.
The military said troops remained on heightened alert and were continuing intelligence-driven operations aimed at preventing armed groups from gaining footholds across the country.
Nigeria has faced prolonged insecurity from insurgents, bandits and kidnapping gangs, particularly in the north, although attacks have increasingly spread into other regions in recent years.
EFCC arrests ex-power minister after fraud conviction sentence
Nigeria’s anti-graft agency has arrested former Power Minister Saleh Mamman days after he was sentenced to 75 years in prison over corruption charges linked to major power projects.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said Mamman was arrested early Tuesday in Kaduna after weeks of evading authorities following his conviction by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede said the former minister was apprehended around 3:30 a.m. alongside two individuals accused of shielding him from arrest.
A court last week convicted Mamman on 12 counts of money laundering and diversion of public funds amounting to about 33.8 billion naira ($24.7 million) earmarked for the Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric power projects.
Justice James Omotosho sentenced Mamman in absentia after he failed to appear in court and ordered security agencies to arrest him wherever found.
The conviction marked one of Nigeria’s highest-profile corruption cases involving a former cabinet minister, as authorities continue efforts to tackle graft in the country’s power sector.