Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has explained that the burning of vessels used for oil theft is due to weak prosecution processes that allow offenders to return to crime with little or no consequence.
Naija News reports that Musa spoke on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, lamenting that the slow pace of justice discourages soldiers and emboldens criminals.
The defence chief said troops often put their lives on the line to apprehend suspects, only for the cases to collapse in court or be dismissed on technical grounds.
He said, “It has to do with the legal system. Sometimes, when cases are taken to court, they get knocked out. We have to review our legal system. If we have special courts that will treat cases quickly, it will help.
“We need to review the punishment for offences. When people know they can get away with anything, impunity sets in, and that is critical. You risk your life, make an arrest, and then tomorrow you hear the suspect is released. Do you think that soldier is ready to sacrifice himself to go and make arrests again?”
Musa cited examples in the Niger Delta where vessels seized for illegal bunkering were returned to operators after token fines. According to him, this left the military with no choice but to adopt direct destruction.
He said, “In the South-South, we arrest a vessel. They (offenders) give them peanuts, and the vessel is back, and that is why we started burning them. Again, people started talking about the environment, so we are now caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.
“For us, we started burning those items once they are found and arrested, and started having peace. But as long as we keep on arresting them and handing them over, and they go through the legal system, it becomes a problem; it takes a longer time to prosecute.”
The CDS stressed that Nigeria must strengthen its justice system to support the fight against terrorism, banditry, and organised crime.
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