Nigeria uncovers 96 terrorism financiers

By Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu

KANO, Nigeria (AA) - The Nigerian government announced Thursday that it has uncovered 96 financiers of terrorism and 424 of their associates/supporters.

Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed disclosed the information to reporters at a media briefing on the anti-corruption war being waged by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mohammed said the fraud unit of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) identified 123 companies and 33 currency exchanges linked with terrorism in the country.

He did not disclose the names of the sponsors and companies.

“For its part, the analysis by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit in 2020-2021 revealed 96 financiers of terrorism in Nigeria, 424 associates/supporters of the financiers (and) the involvement of about 123 companies and 33 bureaux de change, in addition to identifying 26 suspected bandits/kidnappers and seven co-conspirators,” he said.

The analysis has resulted in the arrest of 45 suspects who will soon face prosecution and seizure of assets, he said.

“On terrorism financing, the NFIU had intelligence exchanges on Boko Haram, ISWAP, banditry, kidnapping and others with 19 countries,” said Mohammed.

“During the same period, 2020-2021, the organization returned fraudulently obtained funds totaling US$103,722,102.83, 3,000 pounds sterling, 7,695 Singapore dollars and 1,091 euros to 11 countries of victims who came into the country.”