Terror Financiers Known but Not Disclosed, Says Buratai
Former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has stated that individuals financing terrorism in Nigeria are known to authorities but have not been publicly named for undisclosed reasons.
Speaking on Politics Today aired on Channels Television, the retired lieutenant general said he should not be held responsible for the non-disclosure of the alleged financiers, noting that relevant agencies are fully aware of those involved.
“You cannot say I should be responsible for naming the financiers of terror. It’s not just about mentioning names; those agencies know why the names are not released. Action should be taken; these individuals are still within society today, and they are known,” he said.
Buratai emphasized that while he accepts responsibility for matters strictly within the purview of the Nigerian Army, decisions regarding the exposure of terrorism financiers lie with appropriate authorities.
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He also clarified that the policy of rehabilitating repentant members of Boko Haram was initiated by the government rather than the military. According to him, the military had, in 2016, offered insurgents a window to surrender, after which those who complied were handed over to relevant agencies for rehabilitation.
The former army chief expressed concern over Nigeria’s persistent security challenges, calling for improved intelligence gathering and enhanced recruitment into security services to effectively combat terrorism and related threats.
Demands for the disclosure of individuals and entities allegedly funding insurgency have persisted over the years, particularly following assurances by the Federal Government in 2021 that identified sponsors would be exposed and prosecuted.
Agencies such as the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit have previously indicated that suspicious financial flows linked to terrorism were being tracked, while investigations into funding networks have continued.
However, the identities of the alleged financiers remain largely undisclosed, drawing criticism from civil society organisations and security analysts who argue that transparency is critical to ending impunity.
Nigeria has grappled with a prolonged insurgency in the North-East, where Boko Haram and its splinter factions have been responsible for thousands of deaths and widespread displacement over more than a decade.
By PRNigeria
