Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, announced that criminals holding students and teachers captive in Oyo State have warned they will execute the hostages if the military initiates a rescue mission. Musa shared these details during a preview of an upcoming interview with News Central.
According to the minister, the kidnappers are utilizing the victims to force the release of captured militant leaders currently held by the military. The armed group kidnapped 39 pupils and seven teachers from schools in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15. The minister stated that the captives are being used as leverage, with the criminals explicitly threatening the lives of the children should security forces approach their location.
In response to the rising threat of kidnapping, Musa expressed his support for implementing the death penalty for convicted terrorists and kidnappers. He argued that current legal frameworks are too lenient and that stricter punishments are essential to provide the necessary deterrence against such crimes. His stance supports similar proposals recently suggested by lawmakers to address the security crisis.
