Christopher Musa has said the armed group holding 39 pupils and seven teachers hostage in Oyo State threatened to kill the captives if security forces advanced on their location.
In a preview of an interview with News Central, shared ahead of its full broadcast, Musa said the kidnappers abducted the victims from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, 2026, to pressure the government into releasing their commanders from military custody.
According to the defence chief, the group warned that any military assault on its hideout would result in the immediate killing of the hostages, forcing security forces to prioritise the victims’ safety in their operational decisions.
Musa also called for tougher penalties against kidnappers and bandits, backing the death penalty as a deterrent to rising abductions across the country. He argued that existing laws are too lenient and said stronger punishments are necessary to discourage ransom-related crimes and improve national security.
