The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Dr. Mainasara Kogo, has called for aggressive military action against bandits and terrorists in Nigeria, including the bombardment of nine forests across the North.

Speaking at the 2025 Sir Ahmadu Bello National Annual Memorial Conference held at the Arewa House in Kaduna on Saturday, Kogo emphasised the need for decisive action to tackle terrorism and insecurity across the region.

The conference, which attracted dignitaries from the North, was with the theme: ‘Nigeria’s Leadership for National Cohesion and Stability, Under The Contemporary Governance.’

The CCB Chairman, who was the guest speaker on the occasion, noted that in order to address the security challenges, the nine forests in northern Nigeria that provide shelter to terrorists be bombed to ashes by the military.

He identified the forests as Sambisa(Borno) Mandara mountains(located in Lake Chad), Falgore forests(Kano), Rugu forests(Katsina), Sabon Birni forests(Sokoto), Dansadau,(Zamfara) Birnin-Gwari(Kaduna) and Kontagora(Niger) and Birnin Kogo forests in Katsina states.

According to him, once these forests, which harbour the bandits and terrorists are bombed, the activities of these hoodlums would automatically cease.

Umar said, “The nine bushes that provide shelter to the terrorists in northern Nigeria (the Sambisa, the bushes around Mandara mountains up to the enclave of Lake Chad, the Falgore forests, the Rugu forests up to Shinkafi, the Sabon Birni forests, the Dansadau down to Birnin Kogo forests, the Birnin Gwari, the Kontagora to Yau’ri back to Funtua), must be bombed into ashes! This will automatically kill the terrorists and deny the remnants of the shelter they get from the bushes.

“Then, turn the area into belts of industrial commercial agriculture, which will take care of the 2nd terrorist (hunger) through bumper agricultural production, which will equally gain employment for our teeming unemployed youths.

“Then create industrial farms with a network of roads, farming housing settlements, the nucleus of which will spring up new hamlets and towns Then cluster industries will spring up, e.g. textiles, confectioneries, noodles, factories, flour industries, oil milling factories, will beef up economic activities that will gain foreign exchange earnings for the country.”

The CCT chairman also called for a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s security architecture while recommending the creation of specialised security bodies, such as “National Border Security Police, National Ports Police, National Airports Police, National Cyber Crime Police, and National Anti-Terrorism Police.”

He also emphasised the importance of auditing security spending over the past 20 years to ensure accountability and transparency.

The CCT boss said, “Punish the guilty; punish the perpetrators e.g. several container loads with Arms and Ammunition have, at different times, been arrested, apart from the informants and international collaborators, but to date, we do not know if anyone has ever been convicted. The leadership in Nigeria must be ready to punish.

“Re-jig the security architecture; the President should unbundle the provisions of Section 153 of the Constitution that provides for the National Security Council, the National Police Council and the National Defense Council and make the councils to create the following security bodies:

National Border Security Police, National Ports Police, National Airports Police, National Cyber Crime Police, National Anti-Terrorism Police

“After this, incorporate all the changes in sections 214 – 216 of the Constitution, which gives the power of territorial internal security to the Nigeria Police and sections 217 – 219 of the Constitution that says the police can seek reinforcement from other security formations if the problems before them are overwhelming. In short, leave the police to coordinate all matters of internal-security.

“We want a comprehensive audit of all the monies released for security in the past 20 years. By the time you audit all the monetary spending vis-a-vis what is on ground, you then find out why despite ‘purchase of drones’, Torcanos, and no rat has visibly been brought to public glare.”

Earlier in his welcome address, the National President of Gamji Heritage, Ahmed Abdullahi, called on Nigerians to unite and find lasting solutions to the country’s pressing challenges.

Abdullahi highlighted the achievements of the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, including transformative institutions and projects such as Arewa House, Ahmadu Bello University, and the Kainji and Jebba Hydroelectric Projects.

“Our commitment to progress remains unwavering. With Allah’s guidance, we will overcome these challenges and build a stronger, united Nigeria,” he said.

Other speakers at the conference included the Vice Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Ambassador Ibrahim Mai Sule; Justice Mainasara Kogo Umar; and the Director-General of the Centre for Democratic Development Research and Training, Zaria, Prof. Abubakar Mohammed.

The Catholic Diocese of Warri, Delta State has suspended Rev. Fr. Daniel Okanatotor Oghenerukevwe from priestly duties following his alleged marriage sealed in the United States of America.

This was contained in a statement titled ‘Decree of Suspension’, dated Thursday, January 16, 2025, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri on Sunday.

The statement which was jointly signed by the Bishop of Warri, Rt. Rev. Anthony Ovayero Ewherido and the Chancellor/Notary, Very Rev. Fr. Clement Abobo alleged that “Fr. Oghenerukevwe entered into marriage with Ms. Dora Chichah on December 29, 2024, at the Streams of Joy Church in Dallas, USA.”

It was further gathered that a footage of the marriage reportedly circulated widely on social media had prompted the church to act.

“By this action, Rev. Fr. Daniel Okanatotor Oghenerukevwe has incurred a Latae Sententiae suspension in accordance with the provisions of Canon 1394 S1, and I, Most Rev. Anthony Ovayero Ewherido, Bishop of Warri, do hereby officially decree that he is suspended from the exercise of sacred ministry,” the statement read in part.

The Diocese revealed that Fr. Oghenerukevwe had requested on November 30, 2024, to be released from all canonical obligations associated with Holy Orders.

However, the Diocese said it reached out to him, “asking for the required documents to begin the process, but the priest went on to marry without completing the procedure.

“As such, he is prohibited from presenting himself as a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Warri in any capacity. All canonical implications associated with this suspension take immediate effect (cf. Can. 1333),” the statement posited.

The Diocese further stated that Fr. Oghenerukevwe retains the right to petition for the revocation or amendment of the decree but must demonstrate a willingness to reform.

“May God grant him the grace to reflect on this situation and guide him on the path of reconciliation,” the statement concluded.

The Imo State Police Command has apprehended 40-year-old Uchenna Okpara for allegedly stabbing his in-law, Uchenna Unakalamba, to death during an altercation involving their children.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Imo State, Henry Okoye, disclosed this in a statement released on Sunday in Owerri.

According to the statement, the tragic incident occurred on January 16, 2025, in Ubomiri, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.

Okpara allegedly attacked Unakalamba with a broken bottle after a disagreement between their children escalated into a heated argument.

“The anti-kidnapping unit operatives arrested the suspect, Uchenna Okpara, on January 16, 2025, for allegedly stabbing his in-law, Uchenna Unakalamba, to death.

The altercation, which began as a minor dispute between their children, turned fatal when Okpara used a broken bottle to attack the victim,” Okoye said.

Police officers, responding to a distress call, apprehended the suspect and recovered the weapon used in the attack.

Okoye added that the victim was confirmed dead at the hospital, and his body had been deposited in the morgue.

“The suspect is currently in custody as investigations continue. He will be prosecuted once the investigation is concluded,” the police spokesperson noted.

In a related development, the Imo Police Command has arrested a suspected member of a notorious kidnap syndicate, Ozioma Dike, during an operation in a forest near Agwa, Oguta Local Government Area.

Okoye stated that on January 16, 2025, operatives of the anti-kidnapping unit acted on credible intelligence and raided the hideout of the syndicate.

The operation led to a gunfight, during which Dike was arrested while other gang members escaped into the bushes.

Recovered from the suspect was a pump-action rifle loaded with seven live rounds of ammunition and an iPhone belonging to a victim kidnapped on January 8, 2025, in Ubomiri.

During interrogation, Dike confessed to being part of a group responsible for multiple kidnappings in the Ubomiri, Ogbaku, and Ohii communities in Mbaitoli Local Government Area.

Okoye assured the public that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing members of the gang.

“The arrested suspect remains in custody and will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations,” he added.

The Police Command reiterated its commitment to eradicating criminal activities in the state, with the Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, pledging to sustain peace and ensure the safety of residents across Imo State.