Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, has identified poverty and illiteracy as key drivers of terrorism in Nigeria.
Aliyu made this disclosure on Thursday in Abuja during a Multi-Stakeholders’ National Dialogue on preventing terrorism financing and violent extremism. The event was organised by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) in partnership with Transparency International in Nigeria (TI-Nigeria) and the Inter-Governmental Action Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA ECOWAS).
According to him, addressing the underlying issues is imperative to combat extremism and violent dissent.
Aliyu reaffirmed the commission’s dedication to combating terrorism financing as a means to curtail illicit financial activities. He explained that by targeting the root causes of illicit financial flows, the ICPC aims to disrupt terrorist funding channels and uphold the integrity of global financial systems.
The ICPC chairman also outlined the Commission’s determination to dismantle intricate networks facilitating illicit financial flows, which sustain terrorism through arms procurement, terrorist recruitment and operational logistics.
He stressed the essential nature of addressing terrorism financing, highlighting its pivotal role in debilitating extremist groups’ operational capacities and restoring peace and security to the northeast region of the country.
The ICPC boss stressed the direct correlation between governance failures, corruption and the prevalence of poverty and illiteracy, emphasising the ICPC’s proactive role in combating these vices to prevent the proliferation of extremism and terrorism.
Recognising the complexity of the fight against terrorism financing, Aliyu stressed ICPC’s readiness to lead collaborative efforts with international partners, law enforcement agencies and financial institutions noting that ICPC’s efforts not only align with its mandate to prevent and combat corruption but also play a crucial role in safeguarding national and global security against the scourge of terrorism.
He argued that through a comprehensive strategy encompassing identification, tracking, and disruption of illicit funds fueling terrorist activities, the ICPC upholds its mandate and contributes significantly to national and global security.
Auwal Ibrahim Musa, Executive Director of CISLAC, echoed concerns over the escalating financing of terrorist activities in Nigeria, citing adverse global terrorism indices and recent government identifications of entities involved in terrorism financing.
The CISLAC boss, therefore, stressed the need for collective action among stakeholders to combat terrorism and its adverse effects on poverty rates and internal displacement in the country.
Similarly, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), highlighted the prolonged suffering endured by Nigerians in the Northeast due to insurgency, banditry and kidnapping.
The EFCC chairman said that despite numerous interventions, the situation persists, necessitating collaborative efforts among anti-graft agencies, and military and paramilitary organisations to combat terrorism financing effectively.
