Insecurity: FG uncovers 96 financiers of Boko Haram, ISWAP
…Links 123 companies, 33 bureaux de change to terrorism
…Security experts call for decisive steps, collaboration with other countries
Abimbola Abatta and Seth Akande
The Federal Government, on Thursday, disclosed that it has uncovered 96 financiers of Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The government also linked 123 companies and 33 Bureau de change to terrorists in addition to 26 suspected bandits/kidnappers and seven co-conspirators who have now been identified.
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made this known in Abuja during a press conference on the government’s fight against corruption in.
The Minister said, “The analysis by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), in 2020-2021, revealed 96 financiers of terrorism in Nigeria, 424 associates/supporters of the financiers, involvement of about 123 companies and 33 bureaux de change, in addition to identifying 26 suspected bandits/kidnappers and 7 co-conspirators.”
The analysis, it was learnt, has resulted in the arrest of 45 suspects who will soon face prosecution and seizure of assets.
Mohammed said further, “Also, from its analysis of tax evasion and tax avoidance linked to corruption, NFIU has identified N3,909,707,678,112.43 in VAT and N3,737,918,335,785.82 in Withholding Tax due to the Government.
“NFIU has also sent 1,165 intelligence reports on cases of corruption, money laundering and other serious offences to 27 domestic agencies for investigation, prosecution and asset recovery.”
On terrorism financing, he noted that NFIU had intelligence exchanges on Boko Haram, ISWAP, banditry, kidnapping and others with 19 countries.
“During the same period, 2020-2021, the organisation returned fraudulently-obtained funds totalling US$103,722,102.83, 3,000 Pound Sterling; 7,695 Singapore Dollar and 1,091 Euros to 11 countries of victims who came into the country,” he added.
Earlier, the Minister said the Federal Government deployed the Money Laundering Act, 2004, the EFCC Act, 2004, the ICPC Act, 2000, Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to deal with corruption, money laundering and terror financing.
Mohammed revealed that “the ongoing harmonisation of Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) with National Identification Numbers (NIN) is also a means of tracking the flow of funds within Nigeria and, by extension, tackling terror financing.”
The Minister of Information commended the various anti-corruption agencies for their unwavering commitment to fighting corruption in the country.
He, thereafter, enjoined the citizens of Nigeria to “join in this fight, as it is not a fight for the government alone.
“With the support of all citizens, I can assure you that we will defeat this monster that stunts development and impedes investment,” he added.
In his reaction, Former Director of Department of State Service (DSS), Mike Ejiofor, emphasised the need for the government to take decisive steps to curtail the activities of the ISWAP.
According to him, “ISWAP is a very serious challenge, and it should not be allowed to grow. The government should take more decisive steps to bring the activities of the ISWAP under control. Recall that ISWAP tries to fill the governance gap within the areas thereby winning the confidence in that place. They provide boreholes, impose taxes and if this is allowed to continue the likely hood of them establishing another government is possible.
“I don’t think the military kinetic approach alone will solve the problem. The operations of Boko Haram and ISWAP are slightly different. ISWAP tries to win the confidence of the locals. The government should concentrate on locals by providing social amenities which the ISWAP is now providing.
“At times, I ask myself don’t we have effective drones? Look at the northwest, you see the activities of the bandits. They break freely and I ask before they come and kidnap, don’t we have drones to locate them?”
On his part, former Commissioner of Police and Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, stated that Nigeria must seek aid from sister countries to effectively tackle banditry.
Ojukwu also noted that in addition to firepower, the government must gather intelligence so that fighter aircraft can function effectively.
He said, “Thank God the fire power is available now, but I am not sure it is sufficient, fire power alone can’t just deliver. It requires intelligence. It requires the cooperation, and if the fighter jets are deployed they must focus. The target must be informed by intelligence so the aircraft can work effectively.
“Now that bandits have been declared terrorists groups, the aircraft should be deployed, but my fear is, we are going to have a lot of collateral damage. So we should work it in a way that will be very careful in assessing such situation.
“There is need for cooperation with sisters countries outside Nigeria. They have things that are more than drones. We need to collaborate with them. Nigeria needs to collaborate within West African countries, within the Africa region and even outside it. Wherever your can get help to solve the problem, get that help. Nigeria can afford it.”
