Nigerian Government Must Publicly Name Terrorism Sponsors: Unmasking the Enablers and the Dangerous Secrecy Surrounding Terror Financing in Nigeria.

Nigerian Government Must Publicly Name Terrorism Sponsors: Unmasking the Enablers and the Dangerous Secrecy Surrounding Terror Financing in Nigeria.

By Daniel Nduka Okonkwo

Terrorism in Nigeria persists not only because violent actors operate with impunity, but also because those who bankroll these operations remain shielded from public scrutiny. Those behind terrorist attacks appear comfortable, emboldened by a system that has so far failed to confront them openly or shame them publicly. As a nation grappling with insecurity, it is crucial to remember that the families, associates, and political allies of these sponsors may be benefiting from the destruction and chaos inflicted on innocent Nigerians.

One of the most decisive steps in combating terrorism is the clear and transparent identification of its sponsors. Public disclosure strengthens accountability, deters collaboration, curtails financing, and signals a government’s seriousness in defending the nation. Nigeria, with its evolving legal framework, has the tools to do this, yet the political will to reveal these identities remains uncertain.

Nigeria’s primary legal instrument against terrorism is the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022, which repealed previous legislation and established a comprehensive framework for criminalizing terrorism, terrorism financing, and the financing of weapons of mass destruction. The Act also created the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) and the National Sanctions Committee, both designed to coordinate counter-terrorism efforts and implement UN sanctions.

In late 2025, further amendments were proposed, including the introduction of a mandatory death penalty for all kidnapping offences, a move aimed at strengthening the punitive approach to terrorism-related crimes. The bill passed its first reading in the Senate and reflects the government’s attempts, at least legislatively, to respond to insecurity.

A public list of terror sponsors is not symbolic it is strategic. Naming individuals and organizations that fund terrorism serves several critical purposes:

Identifying sponsors increases public understanding of the networks enabling violence. Citizens become more vigilant and can avoid unknowingly interacting or transacting with listed individuals or entities.

Public naming demonstrates that the government will not tolerate or protect individuals whose activities threaten national stability.

When sponsors are concealed, ordinary Nigerians remain in the dark about those who fuel the violence around them. Transparency ensures that their friends, families, and communities see the real faces behind terror.

Listing individuals and organizations establishes a definitive legal reference for counter-terrorism agencies, enabling coordinated investigations, arrests, prosecutions, and surveillance.

Once listed, financial institutions must freeze assets and block transactions. Global studies show that disrupting financing significantly reduces the operational strength of terror groups.

Entities listed in Nigeria can be quickly referenced by UN bodies, Interpol, and foreign governments, enhancing global collaboration against these networks.

Former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd.), confirmed that some Nigerian politicians are involved in financing terrorism. However, he disclosed that the trials conducted during his tenure were held away from public view, implying a systemic reluctance to expose the identities of these individuals. His comments, made during an interview on National Television, came amid rising international pressure and allegations including remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump concerning targeted attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria.

Gen. Irabor’s admission signals a deeper issue: Nigeria may have the intelligence and evidence, but lacks the transparency or political courage to act decisively.

In 2022, the United Arab Emirates named and sanctioned six Nigerian nationals found guilty of operating a Boko Haram fundraising cell within the UAE. Their names were published, their networks dismantled, and their activities halted. The UAE’s openness demonstrated a commitment to confronting terrorism at its roots an example Nigeria must emulate.

If other nations can publicly identify Nigerian terror financiers, why is Nigeria reluctant to publish its own list?

The answer lies somewhere between political sensitivity, elite complicity, and institutional inertia. But the cost of silence is too high. Every day that identities remain concealed, more innocent people face the consequences of kidnappings, attacks, displacement, and economic destabilization.

Nigeria must move beyond quiet trials and sealed intelligence files. The government must embrace transparency as a tool of national security by releasing the list of terrorism sponsors. This public naming process is not an act of vengeance it is a necessary step in the national interest. By exposing the financiers Nigeria will disrupt terror networks enhance public trust, strengthen global cooperation.

Sending a clear message that the era of impunity is over. The Nigerian people deserve to know the truth. The fight against terrorism is not only about the gunmen in the forest it is about those who fund, protect, and profit from violence. Until these individuals are named and held accountable, Nigeria cannot fully win the battle against terror.

Daniel Nduka Okonkwo is a seasoned writer, human rights advocate, and public affairs analyst, widely recognized for his incisive commentary on governance, justice, and social equity. Through his platform, Profiles International Human Rights Advocate, he has consistently illuminated critical social and political issues in Nigeria and beyond, championing accountability, transparency, and reform.

With over 1,000 published articles available on Google, his works have appeared in prominent outlets such as Sahara Reporters and other leading media platforms. Beyond journalism, he is an accomplished transcriptionist and experienced petition writer known for precision and persuasive communication. He also works as a ghostwriter and freelance journalist, contributing to diverse projects that promote truth, integrity, and the protection of human rights.