The Minister of Information and Culture in Nigeria, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, today revealed a terrifying report on terrorism in Nigeria, saying that the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), has discovered that the world deadliest terrorist Groups in the country, Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), have 96 financiers, including 424 associates/supporters of the financiers.
The Minister, who revealed this at a briefing on the anti-corruption fight of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government further noted that the fraud unit unmasked 123 companies and 33 bureaux de change linked with terrorism in the country.
Refusing to reveal the identity of these promoters of these deadliest terrorist groups, who have brutally killed numerous Nigerians and still killing, Mohammed said, “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, involvement of about 123 companies and 33 bureaux de change, in addition to identifying 26 suspected bandits/kidnappers and 7 co-conspirators. The analysis has resulted in the arrest of 45 suspects, who will soon face prosecution and seizure of assets.”
He stated 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, 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”, he added.
