The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has revealed that the bandits responsible for abducting pupils and teachers from schools in Oyo State have threatened to kill their captives if security forces move in on their location.
Musa made this disclosure in a preview clip of an interview with News Central, shared on Wednesday ahead of its scheduled broadcast on the NC Exclusive programme this Friday.
According to Musa, the kidnappers are using the children as bargaining chips to secure the release of their commanders currently held in military custody. They are seeking leverage because we have some of their commanders.
They believe that by taking these children and holding them for ransom, we will be forced to release their commanders. Now, they are threatening that if we come any closer, they will 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, on May 15.
Discussing further measures to tackle banditry and kidnapping, Musa expressed support for the death penalty for offenders, arguing that weak laws have emboldened criminals. “I think we should do that. There must be deterrence. The laws are soft, and that’s why people take advantage. If they know that committing an offence will be met with punishment, it will serve as a deterrent,” he added.
