UNMASKING THE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM

Government should work with critical stakeholders to expose those funding the insurgency

The conviction last year in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of some Nigerians offered the federal government a window of opportunity to uncover the enablers of Boko Haram in the country. Before then, a variety of ideas and thoughts had been presented on how the insurgency was being funded. Many local and international security experts had wagered that the insurgents made their money with which they carried out their nefarious activities through membership fees, extortion, bank robberies, kidnappings for ransom, drug trafficking, etc. But the arrest and conviction of six Nigerians by the federal appeal court in the UAE opened a new vista in understanding the sources of their funding.

Unfortunately, that lead was never pursued, even though the insurgency has claimed more than 100,000 lives, displaced millions and laid many areas waste. On Tuesday, six Nigerians were designated sponsors of terrorism by the UAE authorities. The said Nigerians are Abdurrahaman Ado Musa, Salihu Yusuf Adamu, Bashir Ali Yusuf, Muhammed Ibrahim Isa, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan and Surajo Abubakar Muhammad. “The resolution underscores the UAE’s commitment to target and dismantle networks that finance terrorism and its related activities,” according to the report. “The resolution demands that regulatory authorities monitor and identify any individuals or entities affiliated with or associated with any financial, commercial or technical relationship and take the necessary measures according to the laws in force in the country in less than 24 hours.”

We hope the federal government will take a cue from the UAE and be more proactive on the issue. A fortnight ago, the United States’ Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard said her country was prepared to partner with Nigeria to identify the sponsors of Boko Haram and violent extremism. She added that she had held at least three conversations in the last two months with top federal government officials on the subject. Any serious government keen on resolving a serious national security challenge would seize the offer.

For a long time, many stakeholders have been urging the government to collaborate with the international community to put an end to the costly insurgency. But the silence of the government on a serious problem that has paralysed governance for more than a decade raises many questions. Why is the government hesitant in the identification, investigation, arrest, and prosecution of alleged sponsors of Boko Haram? Why has the president been holding series of security meetings with service chiefs and yet not interested in acting on available information about those funding the terrorists and with that, attack the main source of the security challenge we face as a nation?

That the insurgency has lasted this long is a critical challenge that deserves all attention. Yet, never has there been such a veritable clue to unearth the sponsors of the terror group than now. Even before the offer by the American ambassador, there were three key findings in an earlier report from the UAE that should have compelled the authorities to action. One, Boko Haram enjoys the support of some key government agencies in Nigeria and two, the insurgents launder money with the aid of some Bureau de Change operators. Three, the insurgency was being sustained by some communal endorsement of its creed.

At the end, an impression is gradually gaining grounds that this evident lack of interest in unearthing who the sponsors are is not only emboldening insurgents to act with impunity but contributing to the security challenge we face today. With Boko Haram making vast territories practically ungovernable, we believe that time has come for the federal government to work with critical stakeholders that may be willing to help to unmask those who sponsor terrorism in Nigeria.