* Offshore funding channels discovered, several suspects arrested
* Customs C-G reveals how arms are smuggled into Nigeria
The Federal government has made a shocking discovery of sponsors of Boko Haram and bandits, the Presidency said last night.
It restated the claim that a link between kidnapping for ransom, banditry and Boko Haram sponsorship has been established.
These sponsors include some bureau de change operators with contacts abroad, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Garba Shehu, said.
According to him, there is evidence that money is being sent from United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Boko Haram leaders.
He confirmed that the statement by Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Dr. Kayode Fayemi that Boko Haram sponsors are behind banditry and kidnapping is a product of intelligence gathering.
He said many people have been arrested, adding that after investigation, those involved will be exposed.
He warned that there would be no sacred cows even if those involved were found to be politicians.
Shehu, speaking on Channels Television, said: “It is shocking to any Nigerian that places of worship and farmland are places where killers of policemen and security officials are being harboured.
“The new Service chiefs are working with the IG and heads of intelligence agencies and there is a clear lead.
A lot of people have been arrested in terms of their financing (of terrorism).
“There are a number of people who are currently under arrest.
“Bureau de change are facilitating money to terrorists. We have already concluded with the UAE on Nigerians who are transferring money to Boko Haram terrorists and this also happens domestically.
“And I tell you that by the time we conclude this investigation, the shocking details will surprise many Nigerians.”
Also yesterday, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered Security Chiefs to “take out” the leaders and sponsors of bandits and kidnappers.
He also reiterated his call on them to bring down violence in the country within the next few weeks.
Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Lucky Irabor and National Security Adviser (NSA) Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd) confirmed the new order after a meeting with the President.
Gen. Monguno told State House reporters: “Mr. President has made it very clear to both the intelligence and operational elements that the first assignment will be to identify the leaders of these bandits, kidnappers and take them out, in order to restore confidence in those areas.
“Mr. President has said that he will no longer tolerate a situation whereby bandits and kidnappers are the ones dictating the pace and setting the tone and he will not also condone a situation in which our own operations are reactionary rather than being proactive.
“He has also indicated his willingness to provide all the resources required by our own troops in order to put down these criminals. They must be brought down with all the ruthlessness that is required and whoever is working in collaboration with them will be brought to book.
“He has also declared that there will be no adjustment in whatever the National Security Council has already laid out until normalcy is restored. He’s also aware of attempts by certain elements, working in cahoots with all kinds of people in and out of the country to continue with exploiting the minefields, especially in Zamfara State.
“A ban has been placed on mining and that ban has to be enforced, people have to comply with whatever the President has laid out. Of course, we, in the intelligence domain, are aware that there are individuals and groups who are planning to link up with all kinds of non-state actors in order to frustrate the efforts of government in implementing the ban on mining, as well as enforcing the no-fly-zone so that no rotary aircraft will land, drop whatever and pick up whatever. That has to be enforced.”
Gen. Irabor promised that the Service chiefs would live up to the President’s expectation. He said: “What Mr President said is that we must bring down the level of violence in the country within few weeks to enable our farmers to go back to the farms. That is on course.
“I believe that before the rains come you will have witnessed a downward trend in the violence across the country and i’m sure that you will attest to the fact that the heightening of operational engagements has yielded positive results.
“He is encouraging us to heighten the tempo of operations. He is satisfied with the way we’ve started and he wants us to maintain the tempo and increase it.
“We’re on course. I’m saying that our operational engagement, the totality of all our engagements, both in manpower increase as well as equipment increase and heightened operational engagements, the totality of it is what I’m saying is on course.”
Meanwhile, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Hameed Ali has revealed that donkeys and motorcycles are used to smuggle arms and ammunition into the country with the active collaboration of border communities.
The Comptroller-General who appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise, said it is worrisome that Nigerians living in border communities are unaware of smuggling as an illegal business.
Ali however assured that “we (Customs) are ready to do all within our powers to ensure that we block all the arms coming into this country.”
The Comptroller-General said scanners would soon be deployed in land borders “ as part of the measures to quickly know the contents of containers.”
He said: ”The influx of arms through approved routes will be completely eliminated at approved routes because we will have instruments to detect things in containers or whatever packages they are concealed in.
“But the issue is that arms do not come through approved routes alone. Some are carried on the back of donkeys coming in through unapproved routes and some on the back of motorcycles. Some of these communities in the border areas are part of the schemes of moving these things into this country.
“We have lost officers and vehicles to these smugglers and border communities. In fact, we have stopped counting the number of vehicles we have lost because almost on a daily basis, I get reports that our vehicles have been burnt by smugglers in collaboration with hoodlums in these border communities.
“When we come and talk about our interest in the border, what are we doing to tell our constituents that they must conform to the laws? In some places, they are not even aware that smuggling is against the law.
“In one community, I saw and greeted a woman. I asked after her husband and what he does for a living. She said what he does was smuggling. As far as they are concerned, they don’t even know smuggling is illegal because it is a way of life.
“It is our responsibility as Nigerians to educate these people on what is right and what is wrong. That is the only way we can enforce the law.
Urging the people to always share information with security agents, Ali said: ”The issue of security does not fall on the shoulder of one agency. It is everybody’s business. I have always asked a question whenever there is abduction of children. In the far North, 100 to 200 people will ride on motorcycles, pass through villages and towns and go to where they are targeting, pick children and ride back through the same route in broad daylight and nothing happens.
“It is only when these children are fully secured in the bush by their abductors that you hear the news. What is the responsibility of citizens? Must it be a policeman that will stop these people? Everybody has business in ensuring security. We don’t pass information.
“Security agencies and Customs need the support of everybody and I hope members are ready to tell their constituents to work with us to reduce to the barest minimum illicit activities. We must get the support of the citizens to effectively do that because these smugglers are within our communities. If we don’t fight them together, we will not be able to end this.”