Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Christopher Musa has revealed that terrorists use funds from illegally mined gold to sustain their operations.
Speaking on a national television programme yesterday, he explained that it was difficult to immediately expose or prosecute terror financiers from within because of their complex networks and international connections.
Gen. Musa also spoke on the capturing of Ansaru terror leaders, the current security situations in the Southeast and Southern Kaduna and oil theft in the Niger Delta.
When asked about the main source of financing for terror groups, the defence chief replied, “Gold. They try to circulate this money, and that is why it is important for us to be able to track these things.
“The process is on. It has to do with a lot of legal issues, and because it has to do with international connections, some of them have funds coming from outside, we cannot do anything from within.”
The CDS added that locally, terror groups receive money daily from some individuals hired by them.
“The local ones, what they do normally is that they try to employ a few individuals, provide motorcycles to them, something to do, and those are remitting funds daily into some account,” he said.
Gen. Musa attributed the recent capture of the leaders to thorough planning by the Nigerian Air Force(NAF), the Nigerian Army(NA), the Nigerian Navy, the Directorate of Military Intelligence(DMI) and the Department of State Services(DSS).
He said: “What has changed is that we have synergy with all the organisations… and that is why we have seen all the successes.
“On the terrorist commanders who were arrested. This is one of the most significant arrests that we have made.
They key leaders arrested are: Mahmud Muhammad Usman of Ansaru and Mahmud al-Nigeri of the Mahmuda group.
Gen. Musa added: “Getting the two of them shows how detailed and how the planning went through, and that was how they were able to pick the two of them.
“These are guys that were haunted for a very long time. It shows that intelligence and operational work are working together.”
Musa, who explained that military personnel worked covertly day and night before “picking the guys,’’ assured that the war against terrorists and other non-state actors is going to be better.’’
National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu had last week announced the arrest of the terror leaders.
The duo headed Ansaru, an al-Qaeda-linked group, and Mahmuda, a relatively new and lesser-known militant group. Mahmuda gained national prominence after a string of attacks earlier this year in the North-Central.
The defence chief said insecurity has notably decreased all over the country.
“Things are improving by the day, and it will get better. We are not going to rest on our hoarse and things will be better.
“I want to assure Nigerians that we’re working covertly to continue to get these terrorists.’’
Nigerians should acquire combat skills
Asked whether he would advise Nigerians to learn combat skills for self-defence, Gen Musa said: “That one should be taken as learning driving, learning how to swim. Whether we have war or not, it is a survival instinct.
“In Europe, swimming is compulsory. Learning and teaching about security is compulsory. because you have to learn what security is.”
Need for review of the legal system, stricter sanctions
Gen. Musa called for a review of the legal system, stricter sanctions and punishment against all forms of insurgency and terrorism.
“We need to review our legal system. Maybe we’ll have special courts that will attend to such cases as fast as possible. I think we also need to review some of the punishments.”
DSS, NIA tracking politicians funding terrorists
The CDS added that the DSS, the NIA and other security agencies are also tracing political actors who fund insecurity.
“I can assure you the attorney-general of the federation and the NSA (Nuhu Ribadu) are all working seriously to ensure that we address those issues.”
NFIU commended
Gen Musa also commended the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) for its role in tracking financial links to terrorism.
“The NFIU has been doing so much; apart from the intelligence set-up, the financial links are also being followed through and through, and arrests have been made,” he said.
Peace returning to Southeast after Ekpa’s arrest
The CDS also said that since the arrest of pro-Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa, in Finland last November, the Southeast has been experiencing relative peace.
He added that troops have activated operations to apprehend Ekpa’s lieutenants in Imo, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi and Abia states.
Musa said, “He (Ekpa) is still undergoing prosecution in Finland. So, we are hopeful. When we talked about him, people thought we were making noise, but since he has been arrested, the Southeast is getting better.
“We are going to go after the likes of him, wherever they are, and whatever it takes until we bring them down.
