The architecture of terror in Nigeria consists of foot soldiers, sponsors and sympathizers. While the foot soldiers have been substantially degraded to the extent that they are now surrendering in droves, the nation is having to contend with the issue of sponsors of Boko Haram and bandits. It has become a controversial issue that may threaten the war against terror, VICTOR GAI, writes.
TWELVE years into the reign of terror in Nigeria, the war has refused to go away. The sponsors who have not been identified, it is believed, are the roots and ideological base of the group and not getting to the sponsors could be akin to killing a snake without cutting its head.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan had once disclosed that his administration had been infiltrated by Boko Haram. Since then there have been conspiracy theories of infiltrations by the group into the Nigerian military.
Onetime Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, the Late Dr. Obadiah Mailafiya, once revealed that he had credible intelligence that a northern governor was a sponsor of Boko Haram. He was grilled by the DSS and later the matter died a natural death.
Also, a former Nigerian Naval officer, Kunle Olawunmi revealed that sponsors of terrorist groups are currently holding positions in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari. According to him, terrorists arrested in the past years had mentioned their names as their sponsors.
“Boys (terrorists) that we arrested mentioned names of people that are in the government now. Some of them are governors, some of them are in the Nigerian Senate, and some of them are ministers. The Department of State Service (DSS) knows them.
“…I have interrogated a high-ranking member of this government on the issue of Boko Haram in 2007/2008 and he was found culpable,” he said.
Just recently, a publication by a news website, westafricaweekly.substack, titled: Cornflakes for Jihad: The Boko Haram Origin Story, revealed the elites behind financing of Boko Haram, which includes the founder of NASCO Group of Companies, the Late Ahmed Idris Nasreddin.
But the organization denied the involvement of their founder. According to the Public Affairs Advisor of the company, Haroun Audu, “…we have never and will never sponsor any criminal act, or violence of any kind that will disrupt the peace and tranquility of the Nigerian state or any country in the world”.
The Nigerian government also said that it had a list of over 400 persons sponsoring terrorism in Nigeria. The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, recently said that over 400 financiers of terrorism in Nigeria were being arraigned. He said the suspects were arrested in Kano, Borno, Lagos, Sokoto, Adamawa, Kaduna, Zamfara states and Abuja.
The latest issue surrounding terror funding in Nigeria was the release by the United Arab Emirates of names of six Nigerian financiers of Boko Haram. The terror sponsors named by the UAE are Abdurrahaman Ado Musa, Salihu Yusuf Adamu, Bashir Ali Yusuf, Muhammed Ibrahim Isa, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan and Surajo Abubakar Muhammad.
In fact, UAE officials have named a Nigerian government official, alleged to be involved in sponsorship of the dreaded sect.
However, in the face of the bloodshed being experienced in the country, Nigerians have demonstrated their eagerness to know the identities of these sponsors even as the Nigerian authorities continue to maintain a grave yard silence on the matter.
“In view of the terrorist attacks being unleashed on law-abiding citizens by groups of insurgents in several parts of the country, we strongly commend the move by the Federal Government to prosecute the suspects who were reported to have been arrested in a nationwide operation a few months ago.
“We, however, request that our law firm be furnished with information with respect to when criminal charges were filed against the suspects since the strike by JUSUN has since been called off.
“Kindly ensure that we are furnished with the requested information within 7 days of the receipt of this letter in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011,” Samuel Ogala wrote in a letter to the Ministry of Justice on behalf of Falana & Falana’s Chambers.
Wale Odunsi, in his article, praised the UAE for exposing these sponsors but berated the US for its lackluster attitude despite being in the forefront of fighting terrorism in the world.
“I salute the UAE for stepping up and showing leadership while others dilly-dally. Their action was not only unprecedented; it will remain indelible. The UAE deserves more accolades.
“The Emirates could have deflected but took the path of courage and honour. They are pained by what is going on in Nigeria and fulfilled what their conscience dictated. It should ring loud in our ears and stick to our heads that the UAE cried more than the bereaved, exposing some of the evildoers in Nigeria while the leaders who begged for votes remain silent,” he stated.
“Nigerians are sick and tired of this terrorism madness. I am adding my voice and urging America to blow the whistle on Boko Haram sponsors. The US should act without further procrastination. The time is now,” he added.
But the United States has expressed its resolve to ensure that the sponsors were exposed.
“This is something we are very eager to partner Nigeria on. I have had at least three conversations in the last two months on this subject,” US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, disclosed recently.
Meanwhile, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, has assured that no stone would be left unturned in the prosecution of Boko Haram financiers, saying it wasn’t yet time to name and shame their sponsors. He also said disclosing their identities could jeopardize investigations on the matter which is ongoing. Malami also gave the assurance that Nigerians “would be properly and adequately informed about the investigation and prosecution process at the appropriate milestones as they unfold”.
“The position, as it stands, is that investigation has reached advanced stage and the Government will make statement in that direction in due course.
“Time is not ripe for holistic disclosures so as not to pre-empt the investigation process. The prime object remains the attainment of peace and security of our dear nation.
“As far as terrorism funding and financing is concerned, we have succeeded in identifying those that are allegedly responsible for funding same and we are blocking the leakages associated with funding while embarking on aggressive investigation that is indeed impacting positively in terms of the fight against terrorism.
“…For the purpose of investigation, I would not like to be pre-emptive in terms of making disclosures that will have effect of undermining the successes we are recording,” Malami stated.
He also disclosed the steps government was taking to prosecute arrested Boko Haram suspects while also saying the call to “name and shame” Boko Haram sponsors, was illegal.
“One thing I can tell you for sure is that whatever we do in terms of detention and arrest is indeed backed-up by judicial processes.
“We have acquired and obtained legitimate court orders taking into consideration the facts and material proof of evidence presented before the court on account of which the court eventually exercises its discretion in terms of granting orders that we can have the suspects in custody pending the conclusion of the investigation.
“Naming and shaming in the Nigerian context must be rooted in constitutionalism.
“We must strike a balance between constitutional presumption of innocence and evidential proof of reasonable ground for suspicion in making disclosures associated with terrorism funding and financing.
“Where reasonable grounds are established, suspects must be naturally taken to court at which point their identity must be disclosed and the naming become apparent.
“Shaming, on the other hand, is the product of conviction at which point the public are equally judicially put on noticed.
“In essence naming and shaming within the context of Nigerian law are judicial functions which commence with arraignment and terminate with convictions.
“Naming and shaming is not unguided and unregulated process. It is not like a discarded ship left at the mercy of winds and tides”, media aide to the Minister, Dr. Umar Gwandu stated.
The statement also added that the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, reviewed over 1000 Boko Haram Case files, out of which 285 have been filed before the Federal High Court based on prima facie cases of terrorism against them.
Meanwhile, as we go into the advanced stage in the fight against terror, one only hopes that it would be a game changer. Terror financing is a very complicated area in the entire terror architecture. Dealing with it demands some level of sophistication and tact. But an even more complicated component in the terror architecture is that of the sympathizers. How the country can decipher terrorists’ sympathizers within the populace, is another herculean task.
