The Federal Government has taken a significant step in its fight against terrorism by publicly identifying individuals and Bureau de Change (BDCs) involved in financing terrorist activities in Nigeria.

A document released by the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NSC) website has revealed a list of 21 individuals and six entities designated as financiers of terrorism.

At the forefront of the list is Tukur Mamu, a Kaduna-based publisher currently facing trial for allegedly aiding terrorists responsible for the attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train two years ago.

This high-profile inclusion underscores the seriousness with which the government is addressing terrorism financing.

The publication of this list comes after years of pressure from various stakeholders, including security experts, human rights groups, and concerned citizens, urging the government to take action against those funding terrorist operations within the country.

The list provided by the NSC includes both individuals and BDCs allegedly involved in terrorism financing.

Below is the list from the NSC:

According to the document, he is being designated because “The subject is a senior commander (Quaid) of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) Okene. He is the suspected attacker of the St. Francis Catholic Church Owo, Ondo State on 5th June 2022 and the Kuje Correctional Center, Abuja on 5th July 2022.”

The reason for his designation as a terrorist financier is due to his membership of the terrorist group Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladissudam (ANSARU). It said “the group is associated with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). The subject was trained and served under Muktar Belmokhtar aka One Eyed. Out led Al-Murabtoun Katibat of AQIM in Algeria and Mali.”

He is said to be a senior commander (Qaid) of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) Okene.

“The subject is a financial courier to ISWAP Okene. She is responsible for the disbursement of funds to the widows/wives of the terrorist fighters of the group,” according to the Nigerian government.

The Federal Government said Tukur “Participated in the financing of terrorism by receiving and delivering ransom payments over the sum of $200,000 US dollars in support of ISWAP terrorists for the release of hostages of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack”.

He “owns entities and business reported in the UAE court judgement as facilitating the transfer of terrorist funds from Dubai to Nigeria”.

The Federal Government says: “Usama Muhammad who is suspected to be a major contact in Zamfara and had transactions with the convict Surajo Abubakar Muhammad and Alhaji Saidu Ahmed (leader of the group), received a total of N57 million from Yawale Muhammad between 2014 and 2017.”