In a bold call to action, Dr. Mainasara Kogo, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), has urged for aggressive military intervention against bandits and terrorists in Nigeria. Speaking at the 2025 Sir Ahmadu Bello National Annual Memorial Conference in Kaduna, Kogo emphasized the need for decisive measures to combat terrorism and insecurity in the region.
Kogo identified nine forests in northern Nigeria that serve as hideouts for terrorists and bandits. He called for these forests to be bombed to eliminate the threat and disrupt their activities. The forests named include Sambisa (Borno), Mandara mountains (Lake Chad), Falgore forests (Kano), Rugu forests (Katsina), Sabon Birni forests (Sokoto), Dansadau (Zamfara), Birnin-Gwari (Kaduna), Kontagora (Niger), and Birnin Kogo forests (Katsina).
According to Kogo, bombing these forests would not only kill the terrorists but also deny them the shelter they rely on. He proposed transforming these areas into industrial agricultural belts to address the secondary threat of hunger and create employment opportunities for the youth.
Kogo also called for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture, recommending the creation of specialized security bodies such as the National Border Security Police, National Ports Police, National Airports Police, National Cyber Crime Police, and National Anti-Terrorism Police. He stressed the importance of auditing security spending over the past 20 years to ensure accountability and transparency.
The conference, themed “Nigeria’s Leadership for National Cohesion and Stability, Under The Contemporary Governance,” attracted dignitaries from across the North. Other speakers included the Vice Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Ambassador Ibrahim Mai Sule, and the Director-General of the Centre for Democratic Development Research and Training, Zaria, Prof. Abubakar Mohammed.
