Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, says bandits holding dozens of abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State have threatened to kill the captives if security forces attempt to rescue them by force.
Speaking in a preview clip of an interview with a journalist, the minister said the kidnappers were using the 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.
He added that the military had exercised caution because of the threat to the lives of the hostages.
“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 nearly eight weeks after gunmen abducted 39 pupils and seven teachers from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, alongside two other schools in Esinle, both in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The mass abduction has heightened concerns over the safety of schools in Nigeria, where students have repeatedly been targeted by armed groups seeking ransom payments or concessions from the authorities.
On efforts to tackle the growing threat of kidnapping and banditry, Musa called for tougher punishments, including the death penalty for convicted offenders.
According to him, the country’s current legal framework has failed to provide sufficient deterrence 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,” the minister said.
His remarks are likely to reignite debate over Nigeria’s approach to combating insecurity, as security agencies continue efforts to secure the safe release of the abducted pupils and teachers.
