The denial was issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, following concerns raised after a terrorist attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

He described the incident as an isolated case and urged Nigerians not to panic or spread narratives capable of causing fear or aiding criminal elements.

Naija News reports that Onoja called on citizens to remain calm, united, and to support security agencies with credible intelligence to help ongoing operations.

He explained that the military had earlier carried out a clearance operation in the Old Oyo National Park, during which criminal elements operating in the area were neutralised.

According to him, available intelligence does not indicate the presence of any organised or established terrorist base in the South-West.

He stated, “The incident in Oyo State remains an isolated criminal act and does not indicate the presence of an entrenched insurgent structure in the region.”

Onoja warned against spreading unverified claims that could create unnecessary panic or embolden criminal groups.

He added that troops had already established contact with the attackers and were continuing pursuit operations across surrounding forest areas.

He further disclosed that joint security operations involving other agencies and local vigilante groups were ongoing to flush out criminals and restore peace.

According to him, community support remains vital, especially through timely information that can assist rescue missions.

“The Armed Forces will not relent until all abducted victims are rescued and those responsible are brought to justice,” he said.

The DHQ also conveyed the condolences of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, to the government and people of Oyo State, as well as families affected by the attack.

The CDS condemned the abduction of pupils and staff, assuring that the military is deploying all necessary resources to ensure their safe return.

Gowon made the remarks on Tuesday at the public presentation of his 859-page autobiography, My Life of Duty and Allegiance, in Abuja, an event attended by dignitaries, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu.

He expressed concern over the repeated failure to conduct free, fair, and credible elections, even within political parties, warning that such practices continue to undermine Nigeria’s democratic process.

Gowon also urged citizens to ignore persistent narratives that portray Nigeria as a failed state, insisting that the country still has the capacity to thrive.

He said, “We all must rise to contain the desperation frequently accepted by the political class who engage in what they love to call do-or-die politicking and their inability to conduct free, fair and transparent elections, even in matters as minor as intraparty elections, which has continued to plague our nation from colonial times.”

He further warned against allowing pessimists to dominate public discourse about the country.

“We must not give room to the naysayers who see no good in our nation and would rather label it as a failed nation,” he said.

Gowon expressed confidence in Nigeria’s long-term potential, saying his experience as Head of State strengthened his belief that the country could overcome its challenges.

“Each time I reflect on my service to my country, I become further persuaded that Nigeria can get better and achieve its potential as the giant of Africa. On my watch as head of state, the country did not fall, and I am confident that the nation, despite all its challenges, still will not fall,” he added.

However, he criticised what he described as a tendency among Nigerians to overcomplicate simple national issues, saying it often leads to unnecessary tension.

“I am worried that Nigerians never seem to get tired of presenting difficult solutions to simple problems, which they further complicate with more complex and ambiguous solutions that invariably generate tensions in the country,” he said.

Gowon led Nigeria as military Head of State from 1966 to 1975, a period marked by the civil war and post-war reconstruction efforts, before being removed in a coup in 1975 while attending a summit in Uganda.

His autobiography spans 36 chapters and 859 pages, covering his early life in Plateau State, military training at Sandhurst, the civil war era, exile in the United Kingdom, and his later public life.