FG Names Tukur Mamu, 14 Others as Financiers of Terrorism in Nigeria

The Federal Government has identified Tukur Mamu, a Kaduna-based publisher, and 14 others as financiers of terrorism in Nigeria.

Mamu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since September 2022.

This revelation came from a document released by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) on Tuesday.

The financiers include nine individuals and six Bureau De Change (BDC) operators and firms.

According to the NFIU, Mamu is accused of financing terrorism by facilitating ransom payments totaling $200,000 to ISWAP terrorists for the release of hostages from the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, with the approval of President Bola Tinubu, has sanctioned these individuals and companies to be listed on the Nigeria Sanctions List.

Another terrorism financier mentioned by the NFIU is the suspected attacker of St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo and the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.

One individual associated with Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladissudam, linked to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, is described as a specialist in designing terrorist communication codes and an Improvised Explosive Device expert.

This individual, who also served under Muktar Belmokhtar, aka One Eyed Out, fled from Kuje Correctional Centre on July 5, 2022, and is currently at large.

Additionally, a senior commander of the Islamic State of West Africa Province in Okene was identified as a terrorism financier, suspected of orchestrating attacks around the Federal Capital Territory and the South West Geographical Zone.