FG uncovers 96 sponsors of terrorism, arrests 45 suspects

The Federal Government has uncovered 96 financiers of terrorism in Nigeria.

Forty-five of the terrorists’ sponsors have been arrested and would soon be charged to court.

One hundred and twenty-three companies and 33 bureaux de change linked with terrorism have also been identified.

Also, 424 associates/supporters of the terrorism financiers are under surveillance of security agencies.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made the revelations on Thursday in Abuja at a press briefing.

Mohammed stated that the analysis carried out by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) uncovered the identities.

His words: “For its part, the analysis by the NFIU, 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 seven co-conspirators.

“The analysis has resulted in the arrest of 45 suspects who will soon face prosecution and seizure of assets.”

The minister added that from 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 totalling $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,” Mohammed said.

TheStar