In a concerted effort to dismantle the financial networks underpinning terrorism, Nigeria's Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has announced ongoing processes to identify and prosecute individuals financing terrorist activities within the country. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance national security and disrupt the operations of extremist groups.
Speaking on Channels Television's "Politics Today," General Musa emphasized the complexities involved in unmasking these financiers, citing legal challenges and international connections. "The process is ongoing," he stated, highlighting that some funds originate from abroad, necessitating meticulous legal procedures and international cooperation. He further explained that local operatives often facilitate these transactions by employing individuals who remit funds into specific accounts, which are currently under surveillance.
This development aligns with previous statements from Nigerian authorities. In January 2025, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, revealed that over 100 terrorist financiers had been prosecuted and convicted in the preceding two years. These actions were part of the National Counter-Terrorist Financing Strategy aimed at disrupting the financial support systems of groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
General Musa also disclosed that the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) are actively tracking politicians suspected of sponsoring insurgency. He lamented the challenges faced by the military, noting instances where arrested suspects are released due to legal technicalities. To address this, he advocated for the establishment of special courts dedicated to handling terrorism-related cases, emphasizing the need for a more robust legal framework to effectively combat terrorism.
These efforts are part of Nigeria's broader strategy to enhance its Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (AML/CFT) frameworks, aiming to remove the country from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list. The government continues to collaborate with international partners to strengthen its capacity to track and prosecute terrorism financiers, thereby bolstering national and regional security.
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