The Federal Government has said the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has uncovered 96 financiers of terror!sm, especially those backing Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).
This was disclosed by Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, during a press conference on the administration’s f!ght against corruption in Abuja on Thursday, February 3. He said NFIU has unmasked 424 associates/supporters of the financiers, about 123 companies and 33 bureaux de change linked with terror!sm.
He said the agency has identified 26 suspected bandits/kidnappers and seven co-conspirators. The government said 45 of the suspects will soon face trial. He said: ” For its part, the analysis by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), in 2020-2021, revealed 96 financiers of terr!rism 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 seven co-conspirators.
“The analysis has resulted in the arrest of 45 suspects who will soon face prosecution and seizure of assets.” Still, on terrorism financing, Lai Mohammed said the NFIU had intelligence exchanges on Boko Haram, ISWAP, banditry, kidnapping, and others with 19 countries.