President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged an aggressive, technology-driven campaign to retake Nigeria’s forests from the grip of terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers, declaring that no inch of the nation will remain in the hands of criminal elements.
Addressing traditional leaders and elders at a state dinner hosted by the Katsina State Government on Friday night, Tinubu assured Nigerians that the days of ungoverned spaces—especially in the North-West—are numbered.
“We will invest massively in surveillance technology and reclaim our forests from the hands of bandits. No patch of Nigeria will be left for terrorists to rule,” Tinubu vowed, drawing a standing ovation from the audience.
The president’s remarks were detailed in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, titled “We will secure our forests and enhance surveillance in the Northwest, President Tinubu assures in Katsina.”
The President’s visit to Katsina comes at a time when the North-West remains Nigeria’s most volatile region, with violent crimes—particularly kidnappings and rural attacks—skyrocketing. A recent United Nations report revealed that between 2018 and 2022, bandit attacks in Nigeria surged by a staggering 731 percent. The toll: over 8,300 people killed and 9,527 abducted from 2019 to the first quarter of 2024—amounting to 62 percent of all nationwide kidnappings.
Katsina itself has borne the brunt of this terror. In June 2024 alone, RouteWatch’s Security Risk Index recorded 277 separate attacks in the state, leading to 684 deaths. A devastating twin attack on April 8, 2025, in Layin Gara and Maikuma villages left six dead and 59 kidnapped, dragged into the thick wilderness of the infamous Rugu Forest.
This forest, spanning 220 kilometers, has become a fortress for terrorists, with over 100 armed camps hidden across key local government areas like Sabuwa, Faskari, Dandume, Safana, Batsari, Danmusa, and Jibia. These camps provide insurgents a labyrinth of caves and dense cover to evade security forces.
The consequences have been dire not just in lives lost, but in economic stagnation. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Katsina recorded zero foreign direct investment in the first nine months of 2024. Two major factories shut down in the state between 2020 and 2024, contributing to the 102 manufacturing closures nationwide—largely due to insecurity and soaring operational costs.
“Investment is cowardly,” Tinubu declared during the dinner. “It will not go where there is banditry and terrorism. That’s why security is not a regional matter—it is national. To attract investment and rebuild our economy, we must first defeat terror. And we will.”
Tinubu also emphasized that the federal government will collaborate closely with states and local governments to ensure a unified security front. He disclosed that recent gains in economic indicators signal a recovery on the horizon—crediting tough but necessary policy reforms.
In a bid to stimulate regional growth, Tinubu hinted at plans to upgrade the Katsina airport into a full-fledged economic hub, aiming to generate jobs and attract investors back to the state.
Beyond military action, the president promised a human-centered approach—assuring that victims of terrorism and their families would receive federal support to rebuild their lives and livelihoods.
“I met earlier today with the brave men and women of our armed forces and assured them: we will give them all the tools they need—technology, resources, and political will—to end this reign of terror,” Tinubu said.
As Nigeria braces for the next chapter in its war against terrorism, the president’s message is clear: the era of surrendering its forests to criminals is over. The battle for Nigeria’s heartland has begun—and this time, it will be fought with the eyes of technology and the strength of national unity.
PIONEER NEWS 