The Federal Government of Nigeria has identified 15 entities suspected of financing terrorism within the country. The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) released information revealing that these individuals and organisations include nine individuals and six Bureau De Change operators and firms.

In a report titled “Identification of Persons and Organisations as of March 18, 2024,” the NFIU stated that the Nigeria Sanctions Committee, convened on March 18, 2024, identified certain individuals and entities for potential sanctions due to their association with terrorism financing.

According to the document, “The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation, with the approval of the President, has designated the following individuals and entities to be listed on the Nigeria Sanctions List.”

One individual mentioned in the report is Tukur Mamu, a publisher from Kaduna, who is currently undergoing trial by the Federal Government for suspected involvement in supporting terrorists responsible for the March 2022 attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train. The document alleges that Mamu participated in financing terrorism by receiving and delivering ransom payments exceeding $200,000 US to support ISWAP terrorists for the release of hostages from the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.

The report also identifies an individual suspected of carrying out the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, and the Kuje Correctional Center in Abuja on July 5, 2022. Another individual is described as a member of the terrorist group Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladissudam, associated with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. This individual received training and served under Muktar Belmokhtar, also known as One Eyed Out, who led the Al-Murabtoun Katibat of AQIM in Algeria and Mali. The person specializes in designing terrorist clandestine communication codes and is an Improvised Explosive Device expert.

The NFIU report also highlights a senior commander of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Okene and an individual responsible for the disbursement of funds to widows/wives of terrorist fighters in the group. It further mentions an individual who transferred N60 million to terrorism convicts in 2015 and received a total of N189 million between 2016 and 2018. This person is also linked to entities and businesses facilitating the transfer of terrorist funds from Dubai to Nigeria, as reported in a UAE court judgment.

Additionally, the report reveals an individual who received a total of N57 million between 2014 and 2017 and another individual who had significant inflows and outflows from their accounts, with a total inflow of N61.4 billion and a total outflow of N51.7 billion.