Nigerian Security and Intelligence Expert Seyi Adetayo has blamed Nigeria’s criminal justice system for the increased insecurity in the country. Dr. Adetayo said by handling cases of terror attacks with little or no seriousness, the country was rewarding criminality.
The established security expert who spoke in a live interview on News Central Television’s Breakfast Central on Thursday, December 4, on the subject of insecurity in Nigeria, said the country was yet to demonstrate readiness to tackle insecurity.
His words:
“The issue in Plateau is not a lone occurrence. It is something that has been going on for a long time, and I can assure you that in spite of all the noise and arrests, another incident will still happen.
“[Nigeria] has not demonstrated any readiness to deal with perpetrators of violence in the country.
“[Nigeria] is rewarding criminality. Our criminal justice system is the main problem.
“Until we stop handling issues of mass murder, genocide, and other related crimes in this manner, this will not stop.
Dr. Adetayo said for insecurity to be curtailed in the largest African nation, perpetrators of violence must be taught lessons to serve as deterrents to potential perpetrators in the country. He however, lamented that the justice system was rather too slow in the passing of judgement against those terrorising the country.
“The perpetrators who manage to get jailed, are released from prison to freely mingle with others. Tell me, why won’t criminals be emboldened to continue killing?
“…Because they see that there is no punishment for offenses committed. Our judicial system is clearly not working.
“I don’t think it is a difficult task for the National Assembly to come up with a law on our criminal justice system to set up a special court of law where cases of terrorism are handled within six months maximum. Where those who kill will be prosecuted [without further delays].” He said.
When asked if failure of the Nigerian Government in the last 10 years to invest in security was the major cause of rising instability, the former government official said the government has been investing in the area of security.
He added that steps taken by the government to tackle insecurity in the country are often sabotaged by some “elements in government” for selfish interests.
“Government has been investing in security. However, the efforts are often sabotaged by some elements in government because they are benefiting from criminality.
“This is an issue that has to do with some individuals and some soft groups. It is not an administration issue,” he said.
The Security Expert added that replacing the country’s service chiefs will not improve security challenges, as people tend to work according to personal interests. He Nigeria’s security challenges should be blamed on those charged with the responsibility of securing lives, yet are doing nothing to curtail killings in the country.
