The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has disclosed that the bandits holding pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oyo State threatened to kill the victims if security forces moved closer to their hideout.
Musa disclosed this in a preview clip of an interview with News Central, released on Wednesday ahead of the full broadcast of 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.
“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 added.
The minister’s comments come nearly eight weeks after armed men abducted 39 pupils and seven teachers from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, and two other schools in Esinle, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, on May 15.
Speaking further during the interview with News Central, Musa also advocated the death penalty for kidnappers, arguing that tougher punishment was necessary to curb the growing menace of abduction across the country.
“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.
