Security
Buratai Reveals Terror Financiers Operate Freely Despite Being Known to Authorities
Former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has disclosed that individuals financing terrorism in Nigeria are not unknown, but are already identified by security agencies, even though their names have not been made public.
Speaking during a televised interview, Buratai explained that it is not his responsibility to reveal the identities of suspected sponsors of insurgency, particularly those connected to Boko Haram.
According to him, attention should be placed on taking decisive action rather than publicly naming those involved, stressing that the financiers of terrorism are still actively operating within society.
“It’s not about mentioning names. Relevant agencies know these individuals and understand why their identities are not made public,” he stated.
Buratai also spoke on the rehabilitation of former insurgents, clarifying that the programme was a government initiative and not solely a military decision. He recalled that during his tenure, a surrender window was introduced in 2016, allowing fighters to lay down their arms and be handed over to appropriate agencies for reintegration.
While acknowledging that security challenges persist, the former army chief called for improved intelligence gathering and stronger collaboration among security agencies to effectively dismantle terrorist networks.
He further urged the Federal Government to boost recruitment into the armed forces and other security agencies in order to strengthen operational capacity.
Despite repeated assurances from authorities that terror financiers have been identified, their continued anonymity has drawn criticism, with many arguing that transparency and accountability are essential to ending insurgency.
Nigeria continues to face a prolonged insurgency in the North-East, with Boko Haram and its factions responsible for years of violence and humanitarian crises.
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