The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has revealed that bandits holding pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oyo State have threatened to kill the victims if security forces attempt to rescue them.
Musa disclosed this in a preview clip of an interview with News Central, shared on Wednesday ahead of its full broadcast on the NC Exclusive programme on Friday.
According to the minister, the kidnappers are using the abducted children as bargaining chips to demand the release of some 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.
He added that the abductors had warned security agencies against launching a rescue operation.
“They’re threatening that if we come any closer, they’re going to kill all the kids,” he said.
The minister’s remarks come nearly eight weeks after gunmen abducted 39 pupils and seven teachers from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, along with two other schools in Esinle, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, on May 15.
Speaking on efforts to tackle banditry and kidnapping, Musa advocated the death penalty for convicted perpetrators, arguing that harsher punishment was necessary to deter violent crimes.
“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.
