Boko Haram Financiers Sanctioned
The Nigerian government has identified and sanctioned 19 terrorism financiers, comprising 13 individuals and six firms, according to a document issued by the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NSC), chaired by the Attorney General of the Federation.
Key Individuals and Entities
The sanctioned individuals include:
- Tukur Mamu: Publisher of Desert Herald, accused of delivering $200,000 in ransom to ISWAP for hostages from the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
- Abdulsamad Ohida: Senior ISWAP commander implicated in high-profile attacks, including the Owo church and Kuje prison incidents.
- Mohammed Sani: Ansaru member and expert in clandestine communications and IEDs, linked to the 2022 Kuje prison break.
- Fatima Ishaq and Hassana Isah: Financial couriers who distributed funds to ISWAP members’ families.
- Yusuf Ghazali: Accused of transferring millions of naira to known terrorists and convicted accomplices in the UAE.
The six sanctioned firms include:
- West and East Africa General Trading Co. Ltd
- Settings Bureau De Change Ltd
- G. Side General Enterprises
- Desert Exchange Ventures Limited
- Eagle Square General Trading Co. Ltd
- Alfa Exchange BDC
Alleged Activities
The individuals and firms facilitated terrorism financing through ransom payments, cryptocurrency scams, and direct fund transfers. Some of the funds were funneled through international networks, including links to convicted terrorists in the UAE.
Sanctions Imposed
The NSC, under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, froze all assets of the indicted individuals and entities. Jointly controlled assets and funds indirectly linked to these entities were also frozen. Financial institutions were instructed to report suspicious transactions involving the listed parties to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
Broader Implications
This marks a significant step in Nigeria’s effort to curtail terrorism financing and dismantle its support networks.
