By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, JOS
Security operatives and stakeholders in Plateau State have raised concerns over the leniency of the judiciary in sentencing criminals, warning that light punishments embolden offenders to continue their criminal activities with greater intensity.
At a two-day stakeholder consultation workshop in Jos, organized by the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), participants lamented that criminals involved in kidnapping, murder, and cattle rustling are often handed minimal sentences or granted bail with fines as low as N10,000, allowing them to return to their communities and wreak havoc.
A representative of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), the security task force overseeing Plateau, Bauchi, and Southern Kaduna, expressed frustration over the repeated arrest of the same individuals due to weak judicial actions.
“There are instances where we arrest criminals, only to find them back in the community committing the same crimes. Some are caught with live ammunition but receive negligible fines and walk free. This undermines security efforts and emboldens others to engage in crime,” he said.
Chairman of the Plateau State Youth Council, Panan Gongden, called for urgent reforms, emphasizing the role of youth in crisis resolution and early warning systems. Similarly, Plateau State House of Assembly Committee Chairman on Health, Nanbol Daniel Listick, disclosed that legislative efforts are underway to review existing punitive measures.
“Our goal is not just to strengthen punishments but to rebuild moral values in communities, where people choose to do good, not out of fear of punishment, but because it is the right thing to do,” Listick said.
The Country Manager for the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, Chris Agoha, explained that the UK-funded Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRING) project is working with security agencies, traditional leaders, and local councils to improve early warning and response mechanisms across Plateau State.
Stakeholders stressed that unless the judiciary enforces stricter punishments, criminal networks will continue to thrive, putting communities at greater risk.