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Tag: boko haram

  • No evidence USAID funds Boko Haram, says U.S. Ambassador

    No evidence USAID funds Boko Haram, says U.S. Ambassador

    The United States Ambassador to Nigeria , Richard Mills Jr. yesterday kicked against the recent claim by an American congressman, Scott Perry (a Republican representing Pennsylvania)  that the  United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was being used to fund Boko Haram.

     There is no evidence, he said.

    Mills Jr. said: “Let me be clear, there is no friend of Nigeria that has been stronger on its condemnation of the violence of Boko Haram and Boko Haram’s contempt for human life than the United States.

    He spoke with reporters  on Wednesday after briefing members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), during the group’s meeting at its secretariat in Abuja, on the key elements of the new focus of US’ dealings with Nigeria.

    The Ambassador said:”We have labeled Boko Haram, since 2013, a foreign terrorist organisation, a designation that prevents Boko Haram from carrying out any asset transfers to United States, allows us to arrest and seize members of Boko Haram and allows us to cooperate in investigations with the Nigerian government.

    Read Also: USAID terror-funding allegation: NSA, DSS DG, NIA boss, others to face Senate panel

    “We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that any of our assistance funding – whether it comes from USAID, the Department of Defense, the State Department – is not diverted to a terrorist group like Boko Haram.

    “There is absolutely no evidence that I have seen  that (USAID funding Boko Haram) has occurred, and certainly if we ever have evidence presented to us that a programme funding was being diverted to Boko Haram, we would immediately investigate, along with our Nigerian partners.

    “And so, I just want to be clear that when it comes to Boko Haram, the United States stands with Nigeria in wanting to rid this country of the scourge that that organization represents,” the Ambassador said.

     To ensure the realisation of Federal Government’s drive to achieve financial independence for local governments as reflected in last year’s judgment of the Supreme Court, the Ambassador said the U.S. government would work with Nigeria.

     Mills Jr. said his country’s preparedness to assist in realising the intendment of the Supreme Court ‘s decision on local governments fiscal autonomy forms part of the policy shift of the new US’ administration’s relations with Nigeria.

    “What we would like to see is, I think, more direct engagement at the state level. Our programmes are more focused on the states. We would like to help develop capacity of the states and the local governing authorities.

    “I think this is partly driven by the Supreme Court decision last summer, that is going to give the local government areas – if this unfolds the way we think it will – perhaps some more authority, more fiscal responsibility.”

  • FG promises to intensify restoration of infrastructure destroyed by Boko Haram

    FG promises to intensify restoration of infrastructure destroyed by Boko Haram

    The Federal Government has pledged to fast track the restoration of infrastructure

    destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgents in the North-east. 

    According to the Minister of State for Regional Development, Mr Uba Ahmadu, the government is poised to achieving the region’s recovery efforts through special intervention.

    Ahmadu spoke during a tour of intervention projects being carried out by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) and paid a visit to Borno Gov. Babagana Zulum in Maiduguri. 

    The Minister said Borno had a special place in the developmental agenda of his Ministry and the NEDC, saying the ministry was very happy with the partnership between the state and NEDC.

    “We intend to intensify collaborations to fast track ongoing projects, initiate new interventions where necessary and work with stakeholders to make Borno State a model.

    “Our visit today is a demonstration of President Bola Tinubu’s priority and his administration’s commitment to working in synergy with the state government to accelerate development, restore livelihood and strengthen peace-building efforts.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Senate summons NSA, DSS DG, NIA DG over alleged sponsorship of Boko Haram by USAID

    “Through the NEDC, we are implementing key interventions in infrastructure, Education, Healthcare and economic empowerment to support the rebuilding process,” Ahmadu said.

    Zulum, who was represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Usman Kadafur, expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu’s administration for having the thought to create a ministry whose mandate focused on regional development.

    “As a state, we will continue to work with the federal government on humanitarian interventions on facilities destroyed by the Boko Haram terrorists.

    “Everyone knew that there had been a lot of destruction of lives and property by the Boko Haram terrorists, but with the intervention of NEDC, communities are returning back home and the people are recuperating,” the governor said.

    At the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mohammed Mele, expressed appreciation to the federal government for building a Centre for Studying Violent Extremism for the institution through NEDC.

    Mele said that the centre which had been put to use since was very crucial for counter-terrorism and peace development studies.

    The vice chancellor further appealed to the minister to help the University to furnish an edifice under the Centre which was also built for the institution by the Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) but has not been furnished.

    However, the Minister directed the Managing Director of NEDC, Mohammed Alkali to go ahead and do the needful as requested by the vice chancellor, saying both NEDC and TETFUND were federal government agencies, as such any of them could provide the needed support to the university.

    At the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital ( UMTH ), Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo, the Chief Medical Director (CMD), took the minister round to showcase some of the interventions the hospital benefited from NEDC.

    The CMD, who explained how the Sept. 10, 2024 flood disaster destroyed equipment and other facilities at the hospital,  put value of the damages at more than N13 billion.

    Ahidjo urged the minister to come to their aid to help them in the area of equipment recovery to enable them to restore the services being rendered by the hospital to the teeming population of the Northeast as a reference centre with more than 150 medical professors.

    The minister said, “We will go back and put heads together, and for those we can handle immediately, we will surely do that but for those we cannot handle we will refer them to Presidency for special intervention.”

    The Minister had also visited the Maternal Child Care at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric, Eye, and Dental Hospital in Maiduguri, currently undergoing reconstruction through NEDC’s intervention.

    He also visited the Central Medical Store (Pharma Grade), which was built by NEDC for the storage of the state medical consumables, and the NEDC state office in Borno under construction.

  • JUST IN: Senate summons NSA, DSS DG, NIA DG over alleged sponsorship of Boko Haram by USAID

    JUST IN: Senate summons NSA, DSS DG, NIA DG over alleged sponsorship of Boko Haram by USAID

    The Senate on Wednesday summoned the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, to brief it behind closed door on the veracity or otherwise of allegation that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is a key sponsor of terrorism, including Boko Haram in the country.

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    The resolution of the Senate followed its consideration and approval of a motion titled: “Urgent need to investigate the alleged funding of Boko Haram by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), sponsored by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC – Borno South) during plenary.

    However, no date has been set for the heads of the Nation’s intelligence agencies to appear before the Senate.

    Details shortly…

  • Reps demand urgent aid for communities attacked by Boko Haram in Borno

    Reps demand urgent aid for communities attacked by Boko Haram in Borno

    The House of Representatives has called for immediate security reinforcement and humanitarian assistance for Jibwuwhi and Yarkawa communities in Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State, following recent deadly attacks by Boko Haram insurgents.

    The resolution was passed after adopting a motion of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Midala Usman Balami on Tuesday.

    The lawmaker decried the increasing attacks, which have led to loss of lives, destruction of property, and mass displacement of residents.

    Despite ongoing security interventions, the House noted with concern that these communities remain vulnerable to repeated assaults.

    The lawmakers warned that failure to act swiftly could lead to further displacement, deepen the humanitarian crisis, and embolden insurgents to launch more attacks.

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    They also lamented the inadequate response from security agencies and humanitarian bodies, leaving affected residents in distress.

    The House urged the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, and other relevant security agencies to deploy personnel immediately and reinforce security in the area to prevent future attacks.

    The House called on the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Borno State Government, to urgently provide relief materials, including food, medical aid, and psychological support to the displaced victims.

    The House further mandated its Committees on Army, National Security and Intelligence, and Humanitarian Affairs to investigate security lapses that led to the attack, monitor the implementation of security reinforcements, and ensure the prompt delivery of humanitarian assistance.

    The lawmakers also urged the federal government to strengthen counterterrorism strategies in Borno state, enhance intelligence gathering, and improve collaboration between security agencies and local vigilante groups to prevent further insurgent activities in the Askira-Uba/Hawul Federal Constituency.

  • Southwest and insecurity

    Southwest and insecurity

    By Oluwole Ogundele

    Boko Haram insurgency rooted very firmly in unbridled Islamic fundamentalism and cultural colonialism started 20 years ago or thereabouts in northern Nigeria. This ugly development has become Nigeria’s number one enemy or monster, thereby making peace and progress on a sustainable scale, a wild goose chase.  Many innocent lives and property have been wasted. Indeed, Nigeria has become a geo-polity where humans are killed like chickens almost on a daily basis.

    However, both local and international collaborators of Boko Haram and several other satanic groups continue to make the struggles against their activities very unsuccessful. Some community leaders appear to have become complicit. Local leaders who are supposed to protect their people have been reported in the media to be supporting these evil members of the society. Who are we to trust? Even our immigration policies appear to encourage dangerous foreign neighbours to enter Nigeria without proper scrutiny.

    It is not an overstatement to claim here that the Nigerian immigration management (in the last eight years or thereabouts) has been very loose. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an overhaul. Unfettered religious sentiments and very narrow ethnic/village solidarity have combined   to reduce many of the traditional and political leaders to nonentities. The quality of political leadership of any system determines the degree of its success or failure as the case may be. Leaders including security agents who are surreptitiously or otherwise supporting insurgents and/or kidnappers are a monumental disaster to society.

    The insecurity rate of Nigeria reached an unprecedented level in the last eight years, largely as a result of the points stated above. This situation has continued to engender more economic hardships and hopelessness both at the national and sub-national levels. Our political leaders (with a few exceptions) have failed us. They have  thrown caution to the winds primarily because of their almost irredeemable, primordial stone age mentality. Not surprisingly, Nigeria bleeds profusely. It worries me a great deal, that some Nigerians (probably due to spiritual bankruptcy) are still celebrating those leaders who have robbed them of their dignity and economic progress in a number of ways. Huge monies have been spent on curbing the menace of insurgency and other forms of violence. But yet there are little positive results until very recently. Huge budgets continue to be set aside for this contemporary self-created problem. Indeed, to those who are benefitting from shedding the blood of innocent people, insurgency, banditry and/or kidnapping are a lucrative business. No scruples because they have sold their souls to Satan. Such a godless group of people will not want Nigeria to know peace. Painfully, the Nigerian youth are being thoroughly polluted and/or miseducated.

    Read Also: Reps demand urgent action on incessant gas explosions in Nigeria

    Anybody with a healthy/godly conscience will appreciate the fact, that PBAT is trying hard to combat the menace of insecurity especially in the northern region, where the blood of innocent citizens flows like a river. However, this assignment is too humongous and complicated to be completed overnight, even by a magician. This is time for good governance as opposed to smelly politics of greed and desperation. But as President Tinubu confronts these insurgents and other evil people who are prepared to run Nigeria aground, the southern governors cannot afford to go to sleep.  They must use all the resources at their disposal to flush out these evil people from within and without their states. It is an insult of huge dimensions, for some foreigners to be disturbing the peace and progress of our land.  Enough is enough! It is naturally expected that more and more Boko Haram members and other deadly groups will be moving southward as PBAT is dislodging them. The National Assembly needs to enact a law that makes kidnapping punishable by death. The so-called deradicalisation of ‘repentant’ Boko Haram members, is a disservice to God and humanity. It is a clever ruse!

    The southwest governors, regardless of political affiliations, should strengthen their alliance so as to crush the menace of insecurity or reduce it to the barest minimum. A stitch in time saves nine.  It is cheaper and wiser to nib in the bud, the regrouping of all kinds of dangerous persons in our land. It is very worrying, that the Nigerian leadership culture is not embedded in proactivity. Most of our political leaders are good mourners, with the usual rhetoric that every calamity is the will of God. We are, out of ignorance, giving Providence a bad name.

    How can some dangerous elements from Niger and Mali know where to stay in the southwestern forests without the support of certain local accomplices? How can they be moving into our regions with huge arms and ammunition without being detected? Does it mean that our intelligence gathering mechanisms are inadequate or what?

    Are we still in the stone age period without modern technologies for intelligence gathering and scrutiny? Who is fooling who? The governors, working in collaboration with local leaders can change the current nauseating narrative enshrined in “village-ness’’ or primordial philosophies of unspeakable proportions. They (the state governors) should with due respect, stop setting questions for themselves and marking the scripts. In other words, they must allow the led to assess them instead of eulogizing and/or celebrating themselves. Self-congratulations are inappropriate in this context! Again, this is a democracy. Consequently, power belongs to the people as opposed to a few ‘powerful’ individuals often with behaviours that do not match whom they claim to be in actuality. In other words, our state governors should focus much more on good governance, and certainly history will judge them accordingly. Afterall, nobody can bribe history.

    Although men and women of profound integrity have become an endangered species in today’s Nigeria, the political leaders can still begin to work more than hitherto for the common good. This is possible through the lens of justice, equity and fairness. Each political leader is writing his curriculum vitae that will outlive him. Any state governor who fails to provide adequate security (despite the positive body language and efforts of Mr. President) has no justifiable reason to remain in office. Let the forest guards service be fully operational. These guards working in collaboration with the Amotekun Security Network and other stakeholders should be able to monitor each state. There should be no ungoverned spaces in the southwest. Bad eggs among them must be fished out and dealt with according to the law of our land.

    Community leaders are also critical in this regard. We should not allow bandits and kidnappers to completely destabilise us before appreciating the fact, that there is need for proactivity. There is fire on the mountain! Both the leaders and the led particularly in the Southwest, have to be much more vigilant than before. This is the time for our governors to demonstrate that they are capable of managing their states. They must craft a much safer environment for the citizens to flourish. No basis for cowardice. A new Sheriff (with the mind-set to serve humanity) now occupies Aso Rock Villa. Let us re-claim our collective, age-long dignity that has almost completely vanished.

    •Prof Ogundele is of Dept. of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Ibadan.

  • Allegations of aiding Boko Haram, bandits baseless, say NGOs

    Allegations of aiding Boko Haram, bandits baseless, say NGOs

    Some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have described as baseless, unfounded and scapegoating, allegations by the military that they were responsible for festering, unabated terrorism in the north.

    In a statement, the 74 prominent NGOs operating in the country urged the military to focus on disrupting terrorist funding and logistics rather than scapegoating civil society.

    The statement followed a report “Why Boko Haram, bandits thrive: How NGOs, others aid terrorists -Former generals, commanders” published last week by a national daily.

    Aside from the report, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, and past service chiefs have made similar allegations against NGOs operating in the northeast, citing their payments of hotel accommodations in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states for 10 years upfront as example.

    A spokesman for former President Muhammadu Buhari also made a similar accusation while justifying the military’s ousting of over 10 NGOs from the Northeast on allegations of supporting insurgents.

    But in their reaction, the non-profits said they were deployed concerned about the inflammatory claims that recklessly accused NGOs in the Northeast, Northwest, and Northcentral regions of providing covert sponsorship and funding to terrorists. They called for caution, noting that such inflammatory statements could lead to attacks on humanitarian actors thereby deepening the crisis further.

    The groups noted that the baseless accusations were coming at a time when the world had recognised the central role that vibrant and active civil society organisations play in broader counterterrorism strategies and the popular support needed, which could only be built and sustained with the support and cooperation of civil society.

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    “We strongly condemn this act of stigmatising, smearing, defaming and targeting the NGO sector which is inconsistent with meaningfully attending to the genuine threats of terrorism in our country.

    “Rather than confronting the systemic failures that have allowed terrorism to thrive in Nigeria, these claims attempt to shift blame onto the very organisations that have stepped into the void to support communities abandoned by the Nigerian state.

    “It is a known fact that a civilian-led approach, engaging civil society and communities, is the most effective way to prevent violent extremism demonstrating the necessity of the role of civil society in channelling discontent and allowing for constructive engagement with states, and in directly undermining the factors leading individuals to be drawn to terrorism and violent extremism,” they stated.

    Continuing, the groups noted the indispensable roles they have played in mitigating the devastating impact of insurgency and banditry for nearly two decades, adding that they have provided life-saving humanitarian assistance, education, healthcare, and psychosocial support to millions of displaced and vulnerable Nigerians.

    “These activities are carried out without any intention of gaining pecuniary benefit and they operate under the supervision of strict regulatory frameworks, including rigorous anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws enforced by the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU)…

    “It is unconscionable to malign NGOs that work tirelessly, often at great personal risk, to bring hope and relief to conflict-affected communities. These accusations, devoid of proof, serve only to erode public trust, distract from the real issues, and undermine the critical work being done in some of the country’s most challenging environments.

    “As we mark another Armed Forces Remembrance Day and honour the sacrifices of Nigeria’s armed forces, there can be little doubt that Nigeria needs leadership, unity, and aggressive actions to overcome the challenges of insecurity, NGOs across the country have risen to the crises our nation is enduring.

    “They are stretching beyond all reasonable measures and continue to advance their missions despite unfathomable challenges and coordinated attacks on the sector…This pattern of baseless accusations is a disservice to Nigerians and undermines the very principles of accountability and justice that we all seek to uphold.

    “The cost of stifling civil society to prevent any perceived threat of terrorism far outweighs its benefits. Any effective counter-terrorism strategy needs to strengthen, not weaken, civil society. There is growing evidence that the instrumentalisation of agendas to counter-terrorism and to prevent and counter violent extremism is leading to a lack of trust in state authorities,” it said.

    The group demanded that the government and military leadership should address the real reasons terrorism persists such as rampant poverty and inequality, porous borders, corruption and inefficiency in defence spending.

    “The Nigerian security apparatus should focus its efforts and manpower on disrupting terrorist funding and logistics networks rather than scapegoating civil society. It must also enhance intelligence gathering and operational capacity to secure lives and properties.

    “The government must engage constructively with NGOs to address the root causes of insecurity and alleviate the suffering of affected communities understanding that civil society can meaningfully generate peace and development, including implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and can clearly articulate the sources of grievances identified as factors leading to terrorist and extremist violence.”

    NGOs that signed the statement include 21st Century Community Empowerment for Youth Initiative; Abuja School of Social and Political Thought;

    Accountability Lab, Nigeria; Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ); African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD); African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL); Amnesty International Nigeria; Borno Coalition for Democracy and Progress (BOCODEP); BudgIT Foundation; Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity; Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD); Centre for Community Empowerment in Conflict and Peacebuilding – Kaduna; Centre for Democratic Research and Training (CRDDERT); Centre for Global Tolerance and Human Rights, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) and Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).

    Others include Centre LSD; Centre for Social Justice Reform; Centre for Transparency Watch; Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC); CLEEN Foundation; Community Life Project (CLP); Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR); Connected Development (CODE); Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA); EIE Nigeria; Elixir Trust Foundation; Emma Ezeazu Centre for Good Governance and Accountability; Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria (ERA); Falana and Falana’s Chambers; Global Rights; Good Governance Team; Goodluck Jonathan Foundation; Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF); Hope Behind Bars Africa; Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre); Human Rights Social Development and Environmental Foundation; INVICTUS AFRICA; Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre; Lawyers Alert

    42. Media Initiative for Transparency in Extractive Industries (MITEI); Media Rights Agenda; Mothers and Marginalised Advocacy Centre (MAMA Centre); Nigeria Network of NGOs; Open Society on Justice Reform Project; Order Paper; Organisation for Community Civic Engagement (OCCEN);

    Paradigm Initiative Nigeria; Partners West Africa; Policy Alert; Praxis, Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative.

    Also, the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC); Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED); Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC); Say NO Campaign-Nigeria; Say No Campaign; Sesor Empowerment Foundation; Social Action; Socio-Economic Research and Development Centre; Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP); State of the Union (SOTU); Tax Justice and Governance Platform; Transition Monitoring Group (TMG); West Africa Civil Society Forum (WASCSOF); Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC); Women in Media Communication Initiative (WIM); Women in Mining, Nigeria; World Impact Development Foundation; Yiaga Africa, Zero Corruption Coalition (ZCC) and Fix Politics signed the statement.

  • Court convicts over 200 Boko Haram terrorists in major counter-insurgency breakthrough 

    Court convicts over 200 Boko Haram terrorists in major counter-insurgency breakthrough 

    More than 200 terrorists were successfully prosecuted and convicted during the recently concluded Phase six terrorism trials, held at the Kainji Detention Facility, Niger state.

    The trials were conducted from December 9 to 13, according to a statement from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), on Sunday.

    The statement said that the convicted individuals received various sentences, ranging from the death penalty to life imprisonment and terms of 20 to 70 years, reflecting the severity of their crimes. 

    The statement said: “Among those sentenced to the maximum penalty were individuals found guilty of heinous offences, including attacks on women and children, destruction of religious sites, the slaughter of innocent civilians, and the abduction of women and children in brutal assault at Gina Kara Kai community in Borno State.

    “Additionally, individuals involved in terrorism-financing – a critical enabler of violent activities – were sentenced to life imprisonment, underscoring the Federal Government’s unyielding resolve to dismantle all aspects of terrorist networks.

    “This achievement highlights the government’s commitment to delivering justice for victims of terrorism and safeguarding the lives and property of all Nigerians.  

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    “The trials, presided over by five Federal High Court judges, were conducted in strict compliance with international standards of justice, mark a critical step in restoring peace and stability in affected regions across the country.

    The statement said that the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, under the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation oversaw the trials in collaboration with the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). 

    It said: “The coordinated effort ensured a transparent and efficient judicial process, the sustenance of effective administration of justice. While the Department of the Public Prosecution of the Federation continues to lead and mobilize for a fair, transparent and efficient judicial process which is a critical step in reinforcing public trust in the country’s justice system, reinforcing public trust in Nigeria’s justice system. 

    “While the Department of the Public Prosecutions led the legal process, the NCTC-ONSA coordinated kinetic and non-kinetic counterterrorism measures, reaffirming the Federal Government’s determination to hold perpetrators accountable, protect victims’ rights and uphold the rule of law.”

    The statement said that the present administration had significantly strengthened the capacities of institutions, including the military, police, intelligence, law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to facilitate the swift and effective administration of justice. 

    It said that measures had also been implemented to ensure the safety of judicial officers, witnesses, and other stakeholders involved in the trials.

    “This initiative reflects Nigeria’s commitment to global best practices in prosecuting terrorism-related cases and aligns with international conventions aimed at protecting fundamental rights,” the statement said.

    It said the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) and the National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu had commended the judiciary, military, police, and other security agencies for their dedication to this landmark achievement. 

    The Nation recalled that at the Phase six of the Terrorism Trial that took place in July this year, 143 cases were heard with 125 convictions.  

  • Boko Haram’s finances reduced significantly, says NDC Commandant

    Boko Haram’s finances reduced significantly, says NDC Commandant

    The Commandant of the National Defence College (NDC), Rear Admiral Olumuyiwa Olotu, has said Boko Haram’s revenue had significantly declined since 2016 due to the counter-terrorism efforts of the Federal Government.

    Olotu spoke at the Defence and Security Management Course 8 (DSMC 8) seminar with the theme: Countering the Financing of Terrorists: Leveraging Global and Regional Institutional Mechanisms for National Action, organised by the Centre for Strategic Research and Studies of the NDC yesterday in Abuja.

    The commandant noted that Boko Haram had remained operational for nearly 14 years, sustained by diverse funding sources, such as local extortion, kidnapping, robbery, foreign donations, and illegal mining.

    Read Also: UPDATED: Borno govt confirms escape of six repentant ex-Boko Haram fighters

    According to him, in 2014, Boko Haram’s estimated annual revenue ranged between $20 million to $70 million with $10 million coming from kidnappings alone.

    Olotu said as of 2020, Boko Haram’s revenue had “reduced to less than $10 million annually”.

    He said: “These efforts have resulted in a decline in the financial strength of organisations, such as ISIS, whose revenue fell from between $1 billion to $2 billion in 2014 to between $200 million and $300 million in 2019.

    “Likewise, AQM’s financing has dropped from $91 million to between $5 million to $10 million since 2020.”

  • Boko Haram’s finances reduced significantly, says NDC Commandant

    Boko Haram’s finances reduced significantly, says NDC Commandant

    The Commandant of the National Defence College (NDC), Rear Admiral Olumuyiwa Olotu, has said that Boko Haram’s revenue has significantly declined since 2016 due to the counter-terrorism efforts of the Federal Government.

    Rear Admiral Olotu said this on Wednesday at the Defence and Security Management Course 8 (DSMC 8) Seminar in Abuja.

    The seminar with the theme: “Countering the Financing of Terrorists: Leveraging Global and Regional Institutional Mechanisms for National Action” was organised by the Centre for Strategic Research and Studies of the NDC.

    The Commandant said that Boko Haram had remained operational for nearly 14 years, sustained by diverse funding sources such as local extortion, kidnapping, robbery, foreign donations, and illegal mining.

    According to him, in 2014, Boko Haram’s estimated annual revenue ranged between 20 million dollars to 70 million dollars, with 10 million dollars coming from kidnappings alone.

    Olotu said that, as of 2020, Boko Haram’s revenue had “reduced to less than 10 million dollars annually.’’

    According to Olotu, the financial capability of terror groups prompted concerted efforts at international, regional, and national levels to counter terrorist financing through coordinated institutional frameworks and global initiatives.

    He said: “These efforts have resulted in a decline in the financial strength of organizations such as ISIS, whose revenue fell from between one to two billion dollars in 2014 to between 200 and 300 million dollars in 2019.

    “Likewise, AQM’s financing has dropped from 91 million dollars to between five to 10 million dollars since 2020.”

    The commandant said there was an overarching need to reinforce and sustain those efforts, ensuring that the financial capabilities of terrorist organizations were further diminished to safeguard national, regional, and global security interests.

    He added that countering the financing of terrorism was strategic to disrupting the financial flows that fuel terrorists’ operations and networks, thus weakening their operational capabilities.

    This strategy, according to him, is crucial because, without the necessary financial backing, terrorist groups are severely constrained in their freedom of action.

    “More so, it is clear that tackling this issue is essential not only for our national defence but for the broader security environment in which we all operate,” he added.

    Olotu recalled that terrorist organizations over the years demonstrated financial capabilities by generating billions of dollars from multiple sources.

    He said that research findings had shown that ISIS terrorists generated between one to two billion dollars annually at the height of its operations in 2014, primarily from oil smelting, extortion, taxation, and kidnapping for ransom.

    According to him, such immense financial resources had not only fuelled ISIS operations but also enabled it to provide financial support to other extremist groups, particularly in Africa.

    Former Director General of Intergovernmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in ECOWAS, Amb. Abdullahi Shehu, in his lecture, said that dealing with terrorism would require dealing with the source of funding for terrorist activities.

    Read Also: Tinubu: We have eliminated 300 Boko Haram, other banditry groups’ commanders

    Shehu said the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2024, revealed that the Sahel was the most impacted region of the world with deaths from terrorism rising to 8,352 in 2023, a 22 per cent increase from 2022

    He said that the Sahel region accounted for almost half of all deaths from terrorism and 26 per cent of attacks in 2023, adding that four of the 10 countries most impacted by terrorism were in the Sahel region.

    According to him, challenges faced by Nigeria in tracking terrorism financing include structural factors such as the porosity of the border and poor border management, the dominance of cash in transactions, financial exclusion and informality of the economic systems.

    He also identified a low capacity for financial investigation as opposed to criminal investigation in Nigeria.

    He commended the recent effort of Nigeria in tracking, prosecuting and convicting terrorism financiers.

  • UPDATED: Borno govt confirms escape of six repentant ex-Boko Haram fighters

    UPDATED: Borno govt confirms escape of six repentant ex-Boko Haram fighters

    The Borno state government says it is collaborating with security agencies to track and arrest some former Boko Haram fighters who allegedly escaped with the government rifles.

    The state’s Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, announced this in a statement on Thursday, October 10.

    Reports had alleged that 13 repentant fighters escaped with government-issued rifles and motorcycles. The former fighters said to be attached to military operatives in Mafa, escaped from their camp between September 1 and 2.

    However, Prof. Tar clarified that the escapees were unarmed and numbered six.

    He said: “The Borno state government is fully aware of the incident and remains committed to collaborating with the relevant agencies to track and arrest the escapees.

    “These repentant returnees are part of a cohort of over 20,000 militants that were recently documented, processed, profiled and categorized as “low risk” in terms of their mental state, vulnerability to violent extremism, propensity for psychotropic substance abuse and probability of relapse to violence.

    “These repentant insurgents escaped unharmed and are being tracked down. Regarding the rumours that the absconders escaped with government arms, preliminary investigation reveals that this was not true.

    “Terrorists and other violent non-state actors have historically acquired weapons from various subterranean sources, which they use in their propaganda videos. Therefore, seeing weapons in such videos does not imply they belong to the government.

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    “It is important to note that the six absconders are a very small and insignificant number when compared to the over 20,000 repentant individuals who were successfully processed and domiciled in the exit programme.”

    The government assures residents and stakeholders that all measures are being taken to maintain peace in the state.

    In his reaction, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Edward Buba, also confirmed the development.

    He said: “The situation whereby surrendered terrorists return to the bush is not a welcomed development.

    “It requires all hands on deck to ensure this is nibbed in the bud,” he added.