Should Nigerian Forces Carpet-Bomb Forest Areas in Tackling Terrorism?

Aug 6, 2022 | Aliyu Dahiru
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Several Nigerians, including political leaders in the country, have floated the notion of defeating terrorists in Nigeria with carpet bombing. Terrorists often seek refuge in Nigeria’s vast forest areas. In the Northeast, the Sambisa forest, especially the mountainous part of Gwoza villages, has served as a haven for Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgents. The vast Kamuku/Kuyanbana forest in the Northwest links Kaduna and Zamfara, and provides access to other states through mutually accessible forest areas. 

Nigeria’s military has frequently engaged in air operations that have “mistakenly” targeted civilians. Over 100 internally displaced people (IDP) were killed in an air raid five years ago in Rann, Yobe State. Seventy-five (75) per cent of Nigerians who responded to a Twitter poll in August voted in favour of using carpet bombing to eliminate terrorist presence in forest areas. But at what cost?