By Mary Onyia
The Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has ordered troops and other security personnel to shoot terrorists and bandits on sight without waiting for approval from superior officers, a directive that is raising fresh concerns over the fate of 46 abducted pupils and teachers still being held by kidnappers in Oyo State.
Speaking in Sokoto on Wednesday during the unveiling of security vehicles procured by the state government, Musa instructed security operatives not to hesitate when confronting armed criminals. He warned that any officer who delays action while waiting for orders could be treated as being in collaboration with the bandits, declaring: “Do not wait for any order from anybody to shoot any bandit.”
The directive comes as 39 pupils and seven teachers abducted on May 15 in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State remain in captivity, with the hostage crisis now entering its eighth week.
In a separate interview this week, the Defence Minister disclosed that the kidnappers were using the schoolchildren as bargaining chips to demand the release of some of their commanders in military custody. He also revealed that the abductors had threatened to kill all the hostages if security forces advanced on their location.
The juxtaposition of the two developments has raised questions about how the new directive will be applied in active hostage situations. While the shoot-on-sight order is intended to strengthen the military’s response to banditry and terrorism, security analysts say rescue operations involving captives often require a different tactical approach, with commanders balancing the use of force against the safety of hostages.
For the families of the abducted pupils and teachers, the overriding concern remains their safe return. As security operations continue, attention is likely to focus on how the military applies the new directive in situations where armed confrontation could endanger innocent lives, underscoring the delicate balance between aggressive action against criminals and the protection of those they hold captive.