HURIWA Advocates Death Penalty For Oil Thieves
…Expresses shock over alleged Army, Navy complicity in oil thefts
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has said that oil theft is both a crime against the state and humanity, as it deprived millions of Nigerians of their rightful share of the nation’s wealth and resources.
HURIWA particularly noted that oil theft was tantamount to economic sabotage and treason, and should be treated as such thus, advocated death penalty for oil thieves to serve a deterrent and a warning to others.
The group said that it was unacceptable that Nigeria, which had vast oil and gas reserves, was losing billions of dollars every year due to oil theft, while millions of its citizens were living in abject poverty and underdevelopment.
It said that the situation was a result of the failure of governance, corruption, and lack of political will to tackle the problem.
HURIWA which stated these while reacting to the revelation that Nigeria lost N2.3 trillion due to oil theft in the first quarter of 2023, called for a comprehensive action to recover the public funds from the perpetrators.
HURIWA in a statement by its National coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiki, said the Federal Government should enact a law to stipulate death penalty for anyone found guilty of crude oil theft.
HURIWA in a statement issued on Wednesday, following a motion moved by Senator Ned Nwoko (PDP Delta North), noted that the motion exposed the alarming rate of pipeline vandalism and oil bunkering in the country just as it pointed fingers at some elements within the security forces, especially the Army and Navy for collaborating with organised groups and oil companies to steal crude oil using sophisticated techniques.
The Senate had ordered a thorough probe into the activities of the security personnel and groups, and urged the Federal Government to take urgent steps to curb the menace that was undermining the nation’s economy and security.
HURIWA while commending Senator Nwoko for bringing the issue to the attention of the Senate and the public, expressed its support for probe and urged the Senate to ensure that the probe was transparent, impartial, and conclusive, and that anyone found culpable was brought to justice.
The group said that it was time for Nigeria to adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards oil theft, and to impose severe sanctions on anyone involved in it.
HURIWA also called on the Federal Government to review its security strategy in the Niger Delta region, and to ensure that only patriotic and professional officers were deployed to protect the oil facilities.
It said that the government should also engage with the local communities and stakeholders in the region, and address their grievances and demands for environmental justice and social development.
