The Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, has said that terrorists holding many pupils and teachers taken from schools in Oyo State have threatened to kill them if troops try to rescue them.
Punch newspapers reported that Mr Musa shared this in a preview of an interview with News Central. The full interview is set to air on Friday.
He explained that the kidnappers are using the schoolchildren to pressure the government into releasing some of their leaders who are 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 names of the terrorist leaders whose release the kidnappers want are not known yet. But PREMIUM TIMES found out that the abduction was done by a Boko Haram faction led by Sadiku. This group has used similar tactics before in the 2022 Kaduna train attack.
The group is said to have received ransom payments and got some of its members released in exchange for captives, but the government has denied paying any ransom.
Mr Musa mentioned that the kidnappers threatened to kill the children if any rescue mission was attempted.
"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," the defence minister added.
These comments come almost eight weeks after terrorists attacked three schools in Yawota and Ahoro-Esinle communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, abducting 39 pupils and seven teachers on 15 May.
One teacher among the abducted was later killed while in captivity. Security agencies are still working to free the remaining victims.
The Defence Headquarters earlier said the attackers were "dislodged" members of Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad (JAS), the official name of the Boko Haram faction.
The military stated that these terrorists were pushed out of their previous strongholds by ongoing military actions and had moved to the Kainji-Old Oyo forest corridor. The group attacked the schools after relocating from other areas where troops had stepped up operations against insurgents.
Military officials also rejected claims that the attacks showed a strong terrorist base in the South-west. They said the incident was due to a displaced terrorist cell and not proof that the area has become a new insurgency hub.
They assured that troops are collaborating with other security agencies and local authorities to break down the network behind the attacks.
During the interview, Mr Musa called for harsher penalties for kidnappers and bandits, even suggesting the death penalty. He believes current laws have not deterred violent criminals.
He stated that tougher penalties would send a strong message that kidnapping and banditry have serious consequences and would help discourage others from these crimes.
Supporting the military's view, Governor Seyi Makinde said the attack shows a change in the country’s security situation. He noted that continuous military operations against terrorists and bandits in the North-west are pushing them south.
The governor added that security operatives searching for the victims faced improvised explosive devices set up by the attackers, which injured some personnel.
He also shared that six suspects have been arrested related to the attack and emphasized that southern states need to be ready to fight off or eliminate fleeing terrorists.
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