Opinion
Should Oil Theft Attract Death Penalty?
The issue of illegal oil bunkering has been a big problem facing the Nigerian government as the nation reportedly loses huge sums of money daily through the illegal act.
In a bid to find a lasting solution to the problem, the Senate President, David Mark, a few days ago advocated death penalty for any perons found guilty of oil theft.
Is death penalty really the best punishment for oil theft? Our correspondent, Calista Ezeaku, and photographer Dele Obinna, sought the opinions of members of the public.
Excepts:
You know that is a constitutional matter. And being a constitutional matter it cannot be tackled without the involvement of the National Assembly responsible for enactment of laws in the country.
Having said that, I will say that the youth involved in oil bunkering do so because of high unemployment rate in the country. So they have reasons for their involvement in such a thing and if the national assembly passes law that stipulates death penalty for involvement in bunkering it will not be equitable.
Equitable in the sense that, there are not being adequate employment to engage these youths, especially the youth of the Niger Delta who have been suffering. You will see that they did not just decide to adopt that means of survival. Most of them are compelled to do so. And there are top dogs to which they are connected. So if such a law should be passed, it should be holistic in terms of implementation. It shall not be directed to only those caught in the act. And you see the problem of the people at the top influencing the execution of laws. This one cannot be an isolation, I’m telling you the truth.
So it will be very difficult for that law to be passed. And borrowing a leaf from the developed countries, death penalty is retracting because killing human beings is anti developmental.
So to cut my opinion short, government should provide employment opportunities for the youth. Secondly the penalty for illegal oil bunkering should not be so stiff, it should be mild so that the ownership of mineral vested in the federal government shall not be abused. If we do not have any law to checkmate or prevent participation in that activity, our posterity will suffer. So in all, I say it shall not be death penalty but a mild penalty and the mode of execution shall be very very objective. It shall not be this person is my brother or my relation.
Again, if you say oil thieves should be punished by death, what happens to those involved in corruption in different places in Nigeria. We all know that corruption is the bane of the Nigerian society. People will embezzle so many billions of naira in the country and when they are caught and proven to have been guilty or liable for the offence, they will wave a huge part of the money embezzled and they will be compelled to pay just a little part. So if they say they want to pass death penalty for bunkering, it should start from corruption because corruption pervades all the ministries of the country.
No, I’m not in support of death penalty for oil thieves, instead they should be punished by certain jail terms. Killing all the people involved in the act which are mainly young people is not a solution to the problem. Oil is not more important than human life. So, they should be punished not killed.
For me, I want to say that the issue is in two ways thing because those people that are involved in oil bunkering are mostly youths and they must have been influence to join the illegal business due to non availability of jobs and the inability of government to take care of their needs. So they decided to be involved in illegal bunkering rather than being idle or going to the streets to beg for food. So they see it as a source of livelihood.
On the other hand, if the constitution says illegal bunkering is a criminal act those caught doing it should be penalized, but the penalty should not be very stringent to the point of killing them. I will advocate that they should be apprehended for a period of time but they should not be killed.
Again, the people caught in the act are not the only ones involved. They have financiers and any punishment stipulated by law for this offence should also apply to them. The penalty should get to the people that are working behind the scene, not just those caught in the act. People commit worse crimes than bunkering in this country and they are not punished by death. Some after committing serious crimes are granted amnesty even post-humously, so why should they advocate death penalty for oil thieves?
No, oil thieves should not be sentenced to death. There are other punitive measures. They can be sent to life imprisonment. But the problem in Nigeria is that somebody serving life imprisonment gets out of the prison after a little while. But if we start getting it right, if they are put there, it will serve as a deterrent to other. But definitely, it shouldn’t be death sentence, I’m against that.
Death penalty is a severe penalty. Theft is theft and it’s against the norm. I don’t think there should be an exclusion. But going the extreme? I think it is too much. There should be some other lighter punishment, maybe like life imprisonment or something less than death sentence.
My opinion also is that as they are punishing people involved in oil theft, they should also do something about corruption in the country. Corruption is endermic, oil theft is another one. But since they make the laws, they know which one will favour them and the one they will use in achieving whatever they want to achieve.
Corruption is endemic, it’s very bad, that’s what has kept this country like this. So something should also be done about corruption and those involved in corrupt practices if this nation must move forward.
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Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
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