Metro
CCT boss gives reasons why 9 northern forests must be cleared to end terrorism
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.
Metro
Days After Massacre Of 16 Farmers, Armed Herdsmen Return To Benue Community, Kill Many Villagers
“Suspected armed Herdsmen came to Ayin Benue State yesterday night to attack our people again. This attack claimed the lives of multiple villagers and we are still recovering corpses in the bush till now,” a top source told SaharaReporters.
“However, the traditional rulers are trying to hide the situation from escalating.”
Attacks by suspected herdsmen in Benue State have led to the killing of at least 5000 persons in recent times.
The latest attack is coming three days after 16 farmers were ambushed and killed on Kashimbila Road in the state while returning to their community in Mbandwa ward.
The farmers were returning home on Monday when they were ambushed.
Their bodies were dumped in the river by the gunmen.
SaharaReporters had also reported that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) had withdrawn all corps members from Mbaa community in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State due to escalating violent attacks.
Confirming the development on Thursday, the Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations of NYSC in Benue, Yahuza Adamu, said the withdrawal was prompted by incessant security threats in the area.
“Since the beginning of incessant attacks on Mbaa Community which shares boundary with the Republic of Cameroon, NYSC withdrew all Corps Members from the area, and has not posted any there till date,” the statement had read.
The situation in Mbaa has worsened, with suspected armed herders reportedly killing over 20 people, including 16 farmers whose bodies were discovered in River Katsina Ala.
Adamu assured parents and guardians that NYSC remains vigilant and committed to the welfare of corps members.
He stated that the NYSC Kwande Local Government Inspector had conducted a headcount, confirming that all corps members were safe and accounted for.
“Hence, all Corps Members serving in Jato Acka Turan, which is far away from the affected community, are not exposed to any security threat,” he added.
The NYSC official stressed that the organisation takes proactive measures to safeguard corps members.
Credit: SaharaReporters
Halima Ibrahim, a Senior Secondary (SS) 2 student of Government Girls Science and Technical College, Potiskum, died on Thursday, following the collapse of their school building during lessons.
Four other students of the school are currently receiving treatment in hospital as a result of the tragedy.
Dr Bukar Aji, Permanent Secretary, Yobe Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, confirmed the incident at a news conference on Thursday in Damaturu.
He said the incident occurred at about 1 pm on Thursday, when a block of two classrooms collapsed on the students during lessons.
“Actually, what happened was that a block, which contains two classrooms, came down to the corridors of the classroom.
“Unfortunately, five of our students were affected.
‘‘One of them gave up along the line, and four of them are in good condition, according to the medical doctor who was in the hospital,” Aji said.
The permanent secretary said that there were about 50 students altogether in both classes, with each class containing 25 students.
“They were in session and they are SS2 students.
“We visited them and actually, they were traumatised,” Aji said.
The permanent secretary said the ministry was waiting for an official report from the school so as to inform the state Ministry of Housing about the development.
“ The ministry is more competent to identify the root cause of the problem and identify measures to prevent future occurrence,” he said.
(NAN)
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in Jato Aka Turan community in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State are currently crying for an urgent security help as they said that herdsmen who launched fresh attacks in the community have killed no fewer than 20 people in two days.
According to the corps members who spoke with SaharaReporters on Wednesday, the herdsmen in an uninterrupted sustained attack between Sunday and Tuesday killed at least 20 and injured several others, throwing the community into chaos and tension.
The corps members lamented that Jato Aka Turan community, which is not far from a Nigerian Army base, is known for security vulnerability as they often watch in broad daylight how more than 20 motorcyles loaded with armed men and ammunition pass around the villages.
They said that the security situation in the community is so bad that their Local Government Inspector (LGI) hardly comes to the community except for the monthly clearance exercise, and that the LGI told them that if the attacks enveloped Jato Aka Turan community, they should move to neighbouring Adikpo community.
A corps member serving in another community in the state told SaharaReporters on Wednesday, “I have been able to speak with one of us at Jato Aka Turan, the affected area of Kwande Local Government Area.
“He said Jato is a far remote village from Adikpo, Kwande Local Government Area Secretariat main town.
“The LGI hardly goes there except for clearance. Likewise, the corps members there have their own activities and CDS there. They are about 21 serving corps members there in Jato Aka Turan, Kwande LGA.
“The corper who I spoke with, who is currently serving at Jato Aka Turan emphasised on challenges and said that they are not safe and they have reported to the LGI.
“According to him, the LGI said when the issue gets there, in their community, they should move to Adikpo.
“They also went to the nearby military checkpoint, a mini barrack and complained to them. The military men said anytime there is a problem, they (corpers) should contact them.
“Corps members in Jato Aka Turan often watch in broad daylight more than 20 bikes loaded with men and ammunition who head to the nearby communities to fight herdsmen.
“When they (vigilante) relent, herdsmen attack and kill the villagers. If nothing is done about the corps members, God forbid, I fear they might be affected.”
A Facebook user with name, Wase Richie Aondofa, who posted about the attacks on Facebook with some gory photos wrote,
“Pictorial evidence of series of attacks in different communities in my village yesterday, at Jato Aka Turan, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State by the Fulani herdsmen.
“Several lives were lost and properties worth millions destroyed. We are calling on all the relevant agencies responsible for this to please come for our rescue.
“We are dying! My village, Jato Aka Turan, Kwande Local Government Area, is no longer safe. God may your will be done.”
SaharaReporters also got a screenshot of a WhatsApp status of one the corps members which read, “Fulani X men (Fulani herdsmen) killed not less than 20 people between Sunday and yesterday (Tuesday) in a village very close to my PPA centre (Place of Primary Assignment) and NYSC staff told us in camp ‘No insecurity in Benue’.
“This fight started in 2014, meaning NYSC staff are aware of this fight. Today, helicopter fly over the school where I teach (PPA).
“The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) went to the village to shell the area. The students started running when they heard the sound of the bomb. We sent them back to the class.”
However, when SaharaReporters called the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Anene Sewuese Catherine, for reaction and comment on the police action on the incident, she rejected the calls.
Anene however sent a text message to our reporter saying, “Can’t talk now. What’s going on?”
However, till the time of filing this report, the police spokesperson has not responded to a text message.
Credit: SaharaReporters
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