Bandits Threatened to Kill Abducted Oyo Pupils if Troops Advanced — Defence Minister

 

By Abdulahi Musa 

Nigeria's Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has revealed that the bandits holding dozens of abducted pupils and teachers from schools in Oyo State threatened to kill all the captives if security forces attempted a rescue operation.

Musa made the disclosure in a preview of an interview with News Central, explaining that the kidnappers are using the schoolchildren as bargaining chips to force the government to release some of their commanders currently in military custody. 

According to the minister, the armed group warned security agencies against moving closer to their hideout, saying they would execute the children if troops launched an assault.

 "They are looking for leverage because we have some of their commanders with us. They feel taking these kids and holding them to ransom will make us release their commander. They threatened that if we come any closer, they are going to kill all the kids," Musa said. 

The minister's comments come nearly eight weeks after gunmen attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15, abducting 39 pupils and seven teachers from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, and two other schools in Esinle. 

The abduction sparked nationwide outrage and renewed concerns over the safety of schools in Nigeria. During the period of captivity, one of the kidnapped teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly killed by the abductors, while the remaining victims are still being held. 

Musa assured Nigerians that the military and other security agencies are carefully handling the situation to ensure the safe return of the hostages, stressing that every rescue effort is being weighed against the risk to the lives of the children and teachers.