Defence Minister Christopher Musa has disclosed that bandits holding pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oyo State have threatened to kill the captives should security forces attempt a rescue operation.
Musa made the revelation in a preview clip of an interview with News Central, shared Wednesday ahead of its full broadcast on the NC Exclusive programme this Friday. He explained that the kidnappers are using the children as bargaining chips to force the release of their commanders currently in military custody.
“For whatever reason, they are looking for leverage because we have some of their commanders with us and they feel taking these kids and holding them to ransom will make us release their commander,” Musa said. “And now they’re threatening when we wanted to take action against them that if we come any closer, they’re going to kill all the kids.”
The Punch reports that the minister’s remarks come nearly eight weeks after gunmen stormed Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, along with two other schools in Esinle, in Oriire Local Government Area, abducting 39 pupils and seven teachers on May 15.
Speaking further on tackling the wider banditry and kidnapping crisis, Musa threw his weight behind capital punishment for perpetrators, arguing that lenient laws have emboldened criminal gangs.
“I think we should do that. There must be deterrence. The laws are soft, and that’s why people take advantage. If they know once you commit an offence, there must be punishment,” he said.
The abducted pupils and teachers remain in captivity as authorities continue efforts to secure their release, with the standoff between security forces and the kidnappers still ongoing.
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