July 9 (THEWILL) — Bandits holding dozens of abducted pupils and teachers from schools in Oyo State have warned security forces against attempting a rescue operation, threatening to kill the captives if troops advance on their hideout, the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has revealed.
The minister disclosed that the kidnappers are using the abducted children as human shields to pressure the Federal Government into releasing some of their commanders currently in military custody.
Musa made the revelation in a preview clip of an interview with News Central, shared on Wednesday ahead of the full broadcast of the NC Exclusive programme scheduled for Friday.
According to him, intelligence available to security agencies indicates that the abductors are seeking leverage over the government by holding the schoolchildren and teachers hostage.
“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,” the minister said.
He further revealed that the bandits had threatened to execute all the captives if security operatives launched an assault on their location.
“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 gunmen attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, alongside two other schools in Esinle, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, abducting 39 pupils and seven teachers on May 15.
Speaking on measures to tackle the growing menace of banditry and kidnapping, Musa threw his weight behind the death penalty for convicted kidnappers, insisting that the country’s criminal laws are too lenient to deter violent offenders.
“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.
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