The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has revealed that bandits holding abducted pupils and teachers from schools in Oyo State threatened to kill the victims if security forces launched an operation to rescue them.
The minister disclosed this in a preview of an interview with News Central, shared on Wednesday ahead of its broadcast on the NC Exclusive programme scheduled for Friday.
According to him, the kidnappers are using the abducted children as bargaining chips to secure 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.
“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,” he said.
The minister’s comments come almost eight weeks after gunmen abducted 39 pupils and seven teachers from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, alongside two other schools in Esinle, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, on May 15.
Speaking on efforts to tackle the country’s worsening insecurity, the defence minister advocated the death penalty for convicted kidnappers and bandits, arguing that tougher punishment is needed 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.
His remarks come amid growing concerns over repeated attacks on schools and the increasing use of mass abductions by criminal groups seeking ransom payments or concessions from the authorities.
The Federal Government has continued military operations against armed groups across different parts of the country while insisting that security agencies remain committed to securing the release of all abducted victims.