Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has revealed that the bandits who abducted pupils and teachers from schools in Oyo State warned they would kill the victims if troops moved closer to their hideout.
Musa made the disclosure in a preview clip of an interview with News Central shared on Wednesday ahead of its full broadcast on the NC Exclusive programme on Friday.
According to the minister, the abductors are using the schoolchildren as bargaining tools to press for 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.
“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.
Musa’s remarks come almost eight weeks after gunmen kidnapped 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.
The defence minister also threw his weight behind the death penalty for bandits and kidnappers, arguing that the absence of stiff punishment has continued to encourage such 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 added.