Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has disclosed that the bandits holding pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oyo State have threatened to kill the captives if security Nigerian forces advanced on their location.

Musa said this in a preview clip of an interview with News Central shared on Wednesday ahead of its broadcast on the NC Exclusive programme on Friday.

He explained that the kidnappers were using the 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 come nearly eight weeks after gunmen abducted 39 pupils and seven teachers from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, and two other schools in Esinle, in the Oriire Local Government Area of the state, on May 15.

Speaking further 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 added. (The PUNCH, but headline reworked)