Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has disclosed that the bandits holding 39 pupils and seven teachers hostage in Oyo State threatened to execute all the captives if security forces advanced on their hideout, a chilling revelation that has complicated rescue efforts and exposed the ruthless tactics employed by criminal gangs increasingly operating in Nigeria's South-West.
Musa made the disclosure in a video interview with News Central TV, a preview of which was released on Wednesday, July 9, 2026, as the country marked nearly two months since the abductions occurred. The victims were taken on May 15, 2026, during coordinated attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota and two other schools in Ahoro-Esinle and Alawusa communities, all located in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Speaking on the abduction, Musa explained that the situation required extreme caution due to the abductors' explicit threats. "Unfortunately, bad things do happen. 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 can make us release their commanders," the minister said. He added: "And now, we are threatened. When we wanted to take action against them, that if we come any closer, they are going to kill all the kids".
The abductors' initial demands included the release of detained terrorist commanders, payment of ransom, provision of two Hilux vehicles, and the implementation of Sharia-related laws. Specifically, they demanded the release of Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara'a or Abbas Mukhtar, and his deputy, Abubakar Abba, also known as Isah Adam or Mahmud Al-Nigeri, both senior members of Jama'atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), a breakaway faction of Boko Haram arrested by DSS operatives last year.
The abduction has already claimed at least one life. Days after the attack, the bandits brutally killed Michael Oyedokun, one of the abducted teachers, while he was in captivity. Another teacher was reportedly beheaded in the forest. The mass abduction sparked widespread outrage on social media and triggered protests demanding the victims' release.
Despite the threats, the Minister of Defence assured that operations are ongoing to rescue the abducted schoolchildren and teachers. Security forces have reportedly blocked the abductors' escape routes and intensified surveillance around their suspected hideout in the Old Oyo National Park forest, where the victims are believed to be held. The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, expressed confidence in the ongoing rescue operation, declaring that troops were making steady progress. "Operations are currently ongoing to rescue those children abducted in Oyo State, and we are making tremendous progress," Shaibu said.
Security sources have revealed that a major intelligence breakthrough by the Department of State Services has enabled operatives to identify members of the kidnapping gang and trace some of their associates across the country. The development has reportedly unsettled the abductors, who are now under intense psychological pressure. A source familiar with the operation said: "The kidnappers are becoming increasingly apprehensive. Their confidence has been shaken, and they are now showing greater willingness to release the children". Another source disclosed that a joint team of DSS operatives and military personnel was steadily closing in on the kidnappers' location and expressed optimism that the operation would culminate in the safe rescue of the hostages.
However, retired senior military officers have urged caution, warning that operational secrecy remains crucial in rescue missions of this nature. Major General Eniola Gbadamosi (retd.) said identifying and tracing the kidnappers' associates had placed the criminal network on the defensive, but stressed the need for continued discretion. The caution reflects the delicate balance security forces must maintain: applying enough pressure to force the abductors to release the captives, while avoiding any action that could trigger the execution of the hostages.
The abduction in Oyo State has been described as a dangerous signal that organised banditry and terrorism are advancing deeper into South-Western Nigeria despite repeated warnings in recent years. The attack occurred in one of the country's historically most peaceful regions, sending shockwaves across the nation and raising urgent questions about the spread of insecurity. The Defence Headquarters linked the Oyo kidnappings to the JAS terror group, which had been pushed out of other regions by military pressure.
Musa's revelation that the bandits threatened to kill the captives if troops advanced underscores the complexity of the security challenge. The government has maintained a policy of not negotiating with or paying ransom to kidnappers or terrorist groups, with the minister reaffirming this position earlier in the year. However, the use of children as human shields and the demand for the release of terrorist commanders have created a moral and operational dilemma for security forces.
As the nation awaits the safe return of the 39 pupils and seven teachers, the Defence Minister's disclosure serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of Nigeria's security crisis. The abduction, now entering its eighth week, has become a symbol of the failure to protect the country's most vulnerable citizens. For the families of the captives, the wait continues, punctuated by the agonising knowledge that their children are being used as bargaining chips in a deadly game of leverage.
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