CDS Musa explains why Military burns seized oil theft vessels

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, says the military sometimes resorts to burning vessels seized from oil thieves because of delays and weak outcomes in prosecution.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Musa explained that oil bunkering cases often collapse in court due to legal technicalities, leaving security agencies frustrated.

“It has to do with the legal system, sometimes legal intercepts. You take it to court, it’s knocked out for one reason or the other,” he said.

The defence chief noted that offenders frequently recover seized vessels with little consequence. “We arrest a vessel. How much is it? They (offenders) give them peanuts, and the vessel is back.

“That’s why we started burning the vessel, but then, again, people started talking about the environment,” Musa explained.

He stressed the need for reforms in Nigeria’s judicial system, including the establishment of special courts to fast-track oil theft cases.

“Maybe we should have special courts that will treat cases as quickly as they are. That is very important. I think we need to review the punishment for offences,” he said.

Musa added that the failure to secure convictions discourages troops from risking their lives to make arrests.

“You go in, risk all your life, make an arrest; for one reason or the other, technical issues, the item is released tomorrow. You think that soldier is ready to sacrifice himself to go and make arrests again? It becomes a problem,” he said.

According to him, tougher punishments, like those applied in terrorism cases in the Middle East, would help deter oil theft and boost soldiers’ morale.

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