ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, announced on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, that bandits holding abducted pupils and teachers from schools in Oyo State have threatened to execute the hostages if security forces initiate a rescue operation.
The primary source, Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, disclosed the development during a preview of an interview with News Central shared ahead of its scheduled broadcast on the NC Exclusive programme on Friday, July 10, 2026. Golden Info reports that Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, stated the kidnappers are using the captured children as bargaining chips to secure the release of insurgent commanders currently held in military custody.
The mass abduction occurred nearly eight weeks prior on May 15, 2026, when armed men took 39 pupils and seven teachers from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, alongside two other schools in Esinle, located within the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Regarding military operations, the kidnappers conveyed that any physical advancement by troops would result in the immediate death of the school children.
In addressing broader measures against national insecurity, the defence minister supported the implementation of the death penalty for convicted kidnappers and terrorists to establish a legal deterrent.
This legislative stance matches a proposal by Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, which was recently endorsed by the Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, to enforce capital punishment for bandits and kidnappers.