The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has revealed that the armed bandits holding pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oyo State threatened to kill the captives if security forces moved closer to their hideout.
Musa made the disclosure in a preview of an interview with News Central shared on Wednesday ahead of the full broadcast of the NC Exclusive programme scheduled for Friday.
According to the minister, the kidnappers are using the abducted children as bargaining chips in a bid to force the military to release some of their commanders currently in 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,” Musa said.
His revelation comes nearly eight weeks after gunmen stormed Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, along with two other schools in Esinle, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, on May 15, abducting 39 pupils and seven teachers.
The minister also called for tougher punishment for bandits and kidnappers, throwing his weight behind the death penalty as a deterrent against the growing wave of 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.
Nigeria has witnessed a surge in mass abductions in recent years, with schools increasingly becoming targets for criminal gangs seeking ransom payments or leverage over security agencies.
Authorities have continued to intensify military operations against bandit groups, while renewed calls have emerged for stronger laws and stricter penalties to curb kidnapping and terrorism.
