Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has revealed that troops of the Nigerian Armed Forces resort to burning seized vessels used for illegal oil activities due to the painfully slow pace of judicial prosecution.
Speaking on the matter, General Musa emphasized that the military’s decision, though drastic, is aimed at preventing the resurgence of economic sabotage by oil thieves who often find ways to reclaim seized assets through legal loopholes.
He explained that once vessels are impounded, the lengthy and cumbersome prosecution process creates vulnerabilities that allow criminal syndicates to manipulate the system, re-acquire the vessels, and resume their illegal trade. To safeguard national economic interests and protect the country’s vital oil resources, the Armed Forces have chosen to destroy such vessels outright.
“We cannot continue to watch criminals sabotage our economy while hiding behind endless court cases,” General Musa stressed. “Burning these vessels sends a clear message — Nigeria will not tolerate the looting of its commonwealth.”
Illegal oil bunkering and crude theft have long been a plague on Nigeria’s economy, draining billions of dollars annually, fueling insecurity in oil-producing regions, and undermining government revenues. The destruction of seized vessels, according to the Defence Chief, is a deterrent to perpetrators who rely on weak legal frameworks to perpetuate their crimes.
Analysts argue, however, that while the move demonstrates the military’s resolve, it also exposes the urgent need for comprehensive judicial reforms to fast-track cases of economic sabotage. Stakeholders insist that without a swift and effective justice system, the fight against oil theft will remain incomplete, no matter how decisive the military’s actions are.
The burning of vessels may appear controversial, but in General Musa’s words, “extraordinary crimes require extraordinary measures.”
PIONEER NEWS 