The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has revealed that ongoing efforts are being made to track and prosecute terrorism financiers in Nigeria, though progress remains hindered by legal and international challenges.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Musa explained that many of the financiers operate across borders, complicating efforts to bring them to justice. According to him, while some funds are traced from outside the country, local collaborators also play a role, often channeling daily remittances through informal networks.
“The process is on; it has to do with a lot of legal issues and international connections. Some of them have funds coming from outside, which we cannot handle locally. The local ones employ a few individuals, provide them with motorcycles, and those remit funds daily into some accounts, so it’s being tracked,” he said.
Musa commended the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) for its role in exposing financial links to terrorism, noting that arrests have been made with the support of the Attorney-General of the Federation, the National Security Adviser, and security agencies such as the DSS and NIA.
The CDS also warned that some political actors may be complicit in worsening insecurity ahead of the 2027 elections. “Last year, we had the least number of deaths, then suddenly everything has gone up. Politics has come in. You cannot rule out the fact that some individuals are ensuring there is no peace. But how do you want to kill the people you plan to govern? What do you gain from it?” he asked.
On reforms, Musa stressed the urgent need to overhaul Nigeria’s legal system, calling for the establishment of special courts to fast-track terrorism cases. “Some punishments and prosecutions take too long. If we have a special court to treat terrorism cases quickly, it will help. We also need to review punishments for offences,” he added.
