Tukur Mamu: FG Releases Names Of Terrorism Financiers In Nigeria
Tukur Mamu, a publisher based in Kaduna, along with 14 others, has been identified by the Federal Government as terrorism financiers in the country.
It is worth noting that Mamu has been held in custody by the Department of State Services (DSS) since September 2022.
The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) released a document on Tuesday, March 19, revealing the names of the terrorism financiers, which included nine individuals and six Bureau De
Change (BDC) operators and firms.
The NFIU stated that the Nigeria Sanctions Committee convened on Monday to recommend specific individuals and entities for sanctions due to their alleged involvement in terrorism financing.
According to the NFIU, Mamu is accused of participating in the financing of terrorism by receiving and delivering ransom payments exceeding $200,000 in support of ISWAP terrorists for the
release of hostages from the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
The NFIU further mentioned that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, with the approval of President Bola Tinubu, designated the individuals and companies to be
included in the Nigeria Sanctions List.
NFIU has identified yet another individual involved in financing terrorism. This person is believed to be the perpetrator behind the attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, which serves as
the administrative centre for Owo Local Government Area in Ondo State.
Recall that the attack took place on June 5, 2022. Additionally, this individual is also suspected to have been involved in the assault on the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja on July 5, 2022.
Another was “a member of the terrorist group Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladissudam, the group is associated with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.”
“The subject was trained and served under Muktar Belmokhtar, aka One Eyed Out, led Al-Murabtoun Katibat of AQIM in Algeria and Mali.”
The NFIU said the individual “specialises in designing terrorist clandestine communication code and he is also an Improvised Explosive Device expert.
“The subject was also a gatekeeper to ANSARU leader, Mohammed Usman aka Khalid Al-Bamawi.
“Equally, he was a courier and travel guide to AQIM Katibat in the desert of Algeria and Mali. He is into carpentry. The subject fled Kuje Correctional Centre on July 5, 2022. He is currently at
large.”
A senior commander of the Islamic State of West Africa Province, Okene was also identified as a terrorism financier.
The NFIU noted that the individual came into the limelight in 2012 as the North Central wing of Boko Haram.
“The group is suspected of the attacks carried out around Federal Capital Territory and the South West Geographical Zone, including the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church,
Owo, Ondo State,” it added.
