The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has revealed that terrorists responsible for the abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State threatened to kill the captives if security forces attempted to rescue them.

The Minister made the disclosure in a preview of an interview with News Central released on Wednesday ahead of the full broadcast scheduled for Friday.

According to him, the bandits are using the victims as leverage to try to secure the release of some of their commanders who are in the custody of security forces.

He said: “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 commanders.

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.”

It was gathered that the disclosure by the Defence Minister comes over fifty days after gunmen abducted 39 pupils and seven teachers from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, along with two other schools in Esinle, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, on May 15.

He, however, added that the government is making great efforts at tackling kidnapping and banditry across the country, stating that he supports the death penalty for convicted perpetrators.

Musa recommended stronger punishments to deter violent crimes.

“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,” the Minister said.