Bandits Threatened to Kill Oyo Pupils if Troops Moved Closer – Defence Minister

• Minister says abductors warned they would execute kidnapped pupils and teachers if troops launched a rescue operation.

• Kidnappers reportedly want detained gang commanders exchanged for the captives.

• Defence Minister backs death penalty for kidnappers, says tougher sanctions are needed to deter crime.

Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has revealed that bandits who abducted pupils and teachers from schools in Oyo State threatened to kill the victims if security forces advanced on their hideout during rescue operations.

The minister disclosed this in a preview of an interview with News Central, released on Wednesday ahead of the full broadcast scheduled for Friday.

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According to him, intelligence gathered by security agencies showed that the kidnappers were attempting to use the abducted children as bargaining chips to secure 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,” he said.

The minister explained that the security forces had to proceed cautiously after receiving direct threats from the kidnappers.

“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 stated.

The abduction occurred on May 15, when armed men invaded Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, and two other schools in Esinle, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, kidnapping 39 pupils and seven teachers.

Commenting on efforts to tackle the growing menace of kidnapping and banditry across the country, the defence minister argued that existing laws were not stringent enough to discourage violent crimes.

He advocated capital punishment for convicted kidnappers, insisting that stronger legal consequences would serve as an effective deterrent.

“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.

The minister reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to rescuing all abducted victims while intensifying military operations against criminal groups operating across the country.