Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, has revealed that the bandits holding dozens of abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State threatened to kill the captives if security forces moved closer to their hideout.
Musa disclosed this in a preview of an interview with News Central released on Wednesday ahead of its full broadcast on Friday.
According to the Defence Minister, the kidnappers are using the abducted pupils 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,” he 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 pupils and teachers were abducted on May 15 after gunmen attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, and two other schools in Esinle, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Thirty-nine pupils and seven teachers were taken during the attack and have now spent nearly two months in captivity, despite ongoing efforts to secure their release.
Musa said the military remained committed to rescuing the victims but stressed that operations had to be carefully planned to avoid putting their lives at greater risk.
The Defence Minister also renewed his call for stricter punishment for kidnappers and bandits, backing the death penalty as a deterrent against 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 comments come amid growing public concern over the prolonged captivity of the Oyo schoolchildren and renewed calls for stronger measures to tackle kidnapping across the country.
