Olusola Bello
The Nigerian government said it has identified 96 financiers of terrorism across the country, especially those backing Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, made this disclosure during a press conference on the administration’s fight against corruption in Abuja on Thursday, February 3.
According to him, the “Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), in 2020-2021, revealed 96 financiers of terrorism in Nigeria, while 424 associates and supporters of the financiers were also uncovered.
In addition to this, about 123 companies and 33 Bureau de change, were linked to terrorists, just as 26 suspected bandits/kidnappers and seven co-conspirators were also identified.
The minister said the analysis of this development has resulted in the arrest of 45 suspects who will soon face prosecution and seizure of assets
He disclosed that the NFIU had intelligence exchanges on Boko Haram, ISWAP, banditry, kidnapping, and others with 19 countries.
During the same period, 2020-2021, the organization returned fraudulently-obtained funds totaling 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.
