The Federal Government has designated 15 individuals and business entities for alleged links to terrorism-financing networks operating within and outside Nigeria.
The list — comprising nine individuals and six companies — was compiled during an inter-agency security review and released following months of intelligence gathering, financial-flow analysis and collaboration with international partners.
According to the report, the individuals flagged for allegedly facilitating the movement of funds, logistics and resources for terrorist groups are: Tukur Mamu, Yusuf Ghazali, Muhammad Sani, Abubakar Muhammad, Sallamudeen Hassan, Adamu Ishak, Hassana-Oyiza Isah, Abdulkareem Musa and Umar Abdullahi.
The Federal Government also identified six business organisations, including Bureau De Change (BDC) operators and trading firms, for allegedly enabling financial transactions linked to terrorism-related activities. The companies listed are:
- West & East Africa General Trading Company Limited
- Settings Bureau De Change Ltd
- G. Side General Enterprises
- Desert Exchange Ventures Ltd
- Eagle Square General Trading Company Limited
- Alfa Exchange BDC
Security officials familiar with the investigation said the designations are part of a broader push to disrupt terrorism-financing channels, strengthen compliance across the financial system and support ongoing military operations against insurgent groups.
They added that the Federal Government will continue investigations into terrorism financing, with more names expected as security agencies intensify monitoring of financial institutions, BDC operators and cross-border cash movements.
Nigeria has, in recent years, expanded its counter-terrorism architecture to target financial enablers, logistics networks and covert channels supporting extremist groups across the Lake Chad Basin and the North West, Akelicious reports.
We are still working on the surface. All these mentioned names are nothing, what if the big wigs?!