 |
| The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa |
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has disclosed that terrorists who abducted pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State threatened to kill the captives if security operatives attempted a rescue mission.
Naija Brain reports that Musa made the revelation in a preview of an interview with News Central released on Wednesday ahead of the full broadcast scheduled for Friday.
According to the Defence Minister, the kidnappers are using the victims as bargaining chips to demand the release of some of their commanders currently in the custody of security agencies.
He said, “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.”
The minister's comments come more than 50 days after gunmen abducted 39 pupils and seven teachers from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, alongside two other schools in Esinle, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, on May 15.
Musa, however, maintained that the Federal Government is intensifying efforts to curb kidnapping and banditry across the country.
He also reiterated his support for the death penalty for convicted kidnappers and bandits, arguing that tougher sanctions are necessary to discourage 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.