By JKNewsMedia
PUPILS AND teachers abducted from schools in Oyo State have been threatened with death if security forces moved closer to their location, Minister of Defence Christopher Musa, has disclosed.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the Defence Minister made the disclosure in a preview clip of an interview with News Central TV shared on Wednesday ahead of its broadcast on the NC Exclusive programme on Friday, according to PUNCH newspaper.
He said the kidnappers were using the abducted children as leverage to secure the release of their commanders 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.
The minister’s comments came nearly eight weeks after gunmen abducted 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.
Speaking on measures to curb banditry and kidnapping, Musa backed the death penalty for perpetrators, saying weak laws had emboldened criminals.
“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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