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Tag: terrorism financiers

  • Buratai, Malami, Yahaya deny links with terrorism financiers

    Buratai, Malami, Yahaya deny links with terrorism financiers

    • By Etsu Bologi

    Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya (rtd) has dismissed a report by Sahara Reporters alleging that he was linked to individuals involved in terrorism financing. The publication, citing retired Maj.-Gen. Danjuma Ali-Keffi, as its source, named Yahaya among several individuals purportedly connected to terrorism financiers.

    Reacting on Saturday through a former Army spokesperson, Brig.-Gen. Sani Kukasheka Usman (rtd), Yahaya described the claims as “false, malicious and baseless.”

    The statement said Yahaya had never, at any point in his military career or afterwards, had any direct or indirect association with persons or entities engaged in terrorism financing or activities that undermine national security.

    “Regrettably, Major General Danjuma Ali-Keffi appears to be pursuing a personal vendetta, seeking to tarnish General Yahaya’s impeccable reputation based on disciplinary actions lawfully taken during service,” the statement said, accusing Sahara Reporters of publishing unverified allegations without basic fact-checking.

    It said the claims were inconsistent with Yahaya’s “impeccable service record, modest lifestyle, and commitment to the defence of Nigeria,” and demanded immediate retractions from Ali-Keffi, Sahara Reporters, and all those circulating the “defamatory content.” Failure to do so, it warned, would prompt legal action.

    In a similar reaction, another former Chief of Army Staff and Ambassador to the Benin Republic, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd) also rejected the publication, saying the allegation linking him to terrorism financing was fabricated and inconsistent with his values and long service record.

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    Buratai, in a statement also issued by Brig.-Gen. Usman described the claims as “false, unfounded, mischievous, and a smear campaign” designed to tarnish his reputation.

    However, the statement described such allegations as “false, unfounded, mischievous, and amount to a smear campaign deliberately designed to tarnish his name and reputation.”

    The statement stressed that Buratai had never been questioned, investigated, or indicted by any security, intelligence, judicial, diplomatic, or administrative body over terrorism financing.

    It read: “At no point in his distinguished career has he ever been questioned, investigated, indicted, or associated with any such matter by any official body or authority. No security institution, intelligence agency, judicial panel, diplomatic mission, oversight mechanism, or administrative body has ever linked him with terrorism financing in any form.

    “The narrative being circulated by Sahara Reporters, relying solely on the unverified personal claims of Major General Danjuma Ali-Keffi (rtd), is therefore a clear misrepresentation borne out of malice and lacks any factual or legal foundation.”

    The statement averred that it was “regrettable, though unsurprising,” that the online publication had once again attempted to drag the precious name into disrepute, a pattern he said it has repeatedly pursued over the years, albeit unsuccessfully.

    It added that Buratai’s four decades of military service were marked by “honour, courage, and steadfast commitment” to defeating terrorism, noting that under his leadership, the Nigerian Army significantly degraded Boko Haram and ISWAP, recovered occupied territories, restored civil authority, and facilitated the return of displaced persons.

    “It defies logic and conscience to suggest that the same person who led decisive actions against terrorism would in any way be associated with the very elements he spent his career confronting,” the statement noted, demanding an immediate public apology from Sahara Reporters and Ali-Keffi or face legal action.

    Meanwhile, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has also dismissed insinuations linking him to terrorism financing.

    Malami, in a statement, described the claims as misleading, unfounded, and politically motivated.

    Malami, who served as AGF from 2015 to 2023, said he had never been accused, invited, interrogated, or investigated by any security or intelligence agency in Nigeria or abroad over terrorism financing. He added that even the retired military officer cited in the contentious report had clarified that he was not accusing Malami or the other individuals named.

    He said the misleading headline overshadowed this clarification and appeared deliberately weaponised by political opponents to create false impressions. Calling terrorism financing a grave offence, Malami said allegations of such magnitude must be based on verifiable facts, not conjecture.

    The former minister highlighted his role in strengthening Nigeria’s anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism-financing frameworks, citing reforms such as the establishment of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) as an independent body and the enactment of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act in 2022. He said these efforts contributed to Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.

    Malami warned against sensational reporting that could erode public confidence in national security institutions and said he reserved the right to seek legal redress over any publication that misrepresents his record or impugns his integrity.

  • FG to expose terrorism financiers, tighten border security, says Presidency

    FG to expose terrorism financiers, tighten border security, says Presidency

    The federal government will soon reveal the identities of terrorists and their financiers as part of sweeping security measures to disrupt funding networks sustaining violent groups across the country, presidential aide Daniel Bwala has said.

    He revealed this during a live interview with TVC on Sunday night, where he addressed issues around Nigeria-US collaboration, the recent surge in attacks, and steps being taken to contain ravaging insecurity.

    According to Bwala, terrorism has evolved into a threat that extends beyond national borders, ensuring that the government is working on exposing those financing terror in the country.

    Bwala said President Tinubu has taken “far-reaching and tough decisions” aimed at crippling the financial backbone of terrorists.

    “The lifeline of all terrorist activities is finances. When you cut the finances from them, it dies naturally. Previous administrations knew the financiers but were either unwilling or unable to act. This President is not going to tolerate that.

    “In next coming days, Nigerians will know who the têrrorists are, and those funding them,” he said.

    Bwala noted that terror groups operating in Nigeria often wield sophisticated weapons, surveillance drones, and military fatigues, which clearly point to established financing channels within and outside the country.

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    He referenced the U.S. strategy that defeated ISIS by blocking its financial supply lines, arguing that Nigeria must adopt a similar approach.

    As part of the new measures, the Federal Government has approved a major recruitment drive across security agencies.

    Bwala said strengthening security along Nigeria’s porous borders was critical, noting that terrorists moving from the Sahel rely heavily on uncontrolled routes to transport arms, fighters, and illicit funds.

    He added that recent attacks on schools, religious centres, and remote communities have reinforced the need for a shift in strategy.

    According to him, terrorists now target schools and children as primary soft targets, prompting the revival of the “Safe Schools Initiative” under the Ministry of Finance.

    Religious bodies, he said, have also been advised to strengthen internal security vigilance.

    On cooperation with the United States, Bwala said Nigeria is seeking intelligence-based support rather than foreign boots on the ground.

    “If you bring foreign troops who don’t understand our terrain or asymmetric warfare, they will be killed like chickens,” he said.

    Instead, the government wants advanced drone systems, satellite imagery, technical surveillance, and community-based intelligence to drive more effective operations.

    Bwala linked the recent rise in terror activities to two major theories:

    “Attempts by foreign interests to justify military intervention in Nigeria, and political sabotage ahead of future elections aimed at destabilising the government.”

    He added that criminal elements within communities have also taken advantage of the situation, while propaganda networks, including AI-generated fake news and cloned voices, were being deployed to fuel panic.

    Despite these challenges, he said global partners now recognise Nigeria’s broader strategy and are increasingly willing to support efforts to dismantle the financing, recruitment, and movement of terrorists across the country.