Terrorism Archives - Afinju FM

National Assembly Calls on FG to Name Terrorism Financiers, Impose Death Penalty for Kidnapping

Boluwatife Ajayi — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 10:05:22 +0000

Nigeria’s National Assembly has intensified pressure on the Federal Government to publicly identify and prosecute financiers of terrorism as lawmakers in both chambers advanced sweeping security reforms aimed at curbing the country’s worsening insecurity.

During separate plenary sessions, the Senate and House of Representatives pushed for tougher measures against terrorism backers and kidnappers. The Senate went further, endorsing capital punishment for kidnappers and anyone who funds, supports or provides intelligence to them, as it considered amendments to the 2022 Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.

The amendment bill, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, seeks to classify kidnapping, hostage-taking and related crimes as acts of terrorism, a move he said would strengthen the powers of security agencies to track and dismantle criminal networks.

Bamidele argued that kidnapping had evolved into a commercialised and militarised activity bearing all the hallmarks of terrorism, warning that its spread had devastated families, crippled economic activity and overstretched security forces.

Under the proposed law, offenders, including informants, logistics suppliers and harbourers would face the death penalty. Attempts, conspiracy or incitement to kidnap would attract the same punishment.

Key senators, including Adams Oshiomhole, Orji Uzor Kalu and Minority Leader Abba Moro, backed the proposal, with Oshiomhole insisting that deradicalisation programmes for terror suspects should be discontinued.

After extensive debate, the Senate referred the bill to its Committees on Judiciary, National Security, and Interior for further legislative work, with a two week deadline to report back.

In the House of Representatives, lawmakers also demanded the public naming and prosecution of terrorism sponsors as they debated a security report presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.

One of the key resolutions adopted was the call for open, transparent and expedited terrorism-related prosecutions, alongside the creation of a Special Court for terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

The House recommended placing all security expenditure on first-line charge to ensure predictable funding, strengthening cashless systems to curb ransom payments, and boosting digital monitoring capacities across financial institutions.

Lawmakers also debated President Bola Tinubu’s directive to withdraw police guards from VIPs. While some members argued for redeploying officers to core policing duties, the House resolved that police protection should be limited to serving national officers such as governors and judicial leaders.

Further resolutions included reviewing the military’s ‘super-camp’ strategy, increasing security presence in volatile regions, enhancing protection for schools and other soft targets, and reactivating CCTV surveillance nationwide. The House also endorsed expedited constitutional amendments to establish state police.

With rising concerns over misinformation and AI-driven harmful content, lawmakers urged a balanced regulatory framework for digital platforms. They also called for improved tracking of weapons, massive recruitment into security agencies, enhanced welfare for personnel, and the creation of a National Fallen Heroes Support Fund.

Other proposals included banning ransom payments by government entities, creating a Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission, strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation with the United States, and expanding trauma and relief interventions in affected communities.

The resolutions will be transmitted to the Senate for concurrence.

Source: Punch

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FG Says Terrorism Financing Cases Delayed by Complex Investigations

Afinju FM — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 13:45:09 +0000

Speaking on national television, Idris dismissed public assumptions that the government was simply holding on to a list of suspects, noting that thorough evidence gathering is essential before any trial.

His comments follow growing criticism over the failure of successive administrations to prosecute individuals linked to financing Boko Haram, ISWAP and bandit groups, despite earlier claims under former President Muhammadu Buhari that several suspects had been identified.

Idris maintained that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is working “assiduously” to tackle insecurity, stating that more than 13,500 criminals have been neutralised and over 17,000 arrested since May 2023, with many already facing trial.

On the long-awaited appointment of ambassadors, he said the President is finalising the list, which is currently undergoing security vetting. He added that Nigeria is engaged in ongoing diplomatic efforts with the United States and other partners to clarify the country’s security challenges and strengthen cooperation.

Source: Punch

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Nnamdi Kanu to Defend Himself as Lawyers Withdraw from Case

Afinju FM — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 11:06:19 +0000

Agabi told the court that Kanu had decided to take over his defence, prompting all the senior advocates on the team to step down from the case.

Confirming this, Kanu said he would represent himself for now but might hire new lawyers later. When the judge offered to assign him a lawyer, he declined.

During the hearing, Kanu maintained that the court had no power to try him. He is facing a seven-count charge filed by the Federal Government.

Kanu has also named several public figures, including former and current ministers, governors, and military chiefs, as witnesses for his defence.

Source: Punch

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Nnamdi Kanu Fit For Trail – NMA

Afinju FM — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 13:12:46 +0000

Recall that the trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, directed the association to independently assess Kanu’s health status following conflicting medical reports presented by the defence and the prosecution.

Kanu is currently being prosecuted by the Federal Government on charges relating to alleged terrorism.

Relying on the medical findings and in the absence of any objection from counsel to the parties, Justice Omotosho ruled that the court was satisfied that the defendant could proceed with his trial.

Additionally, Justice Omotosho granted an oral application by Kanu’s lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), seeking permission for a private consultation between the defendant and his legal team outside the Department of State Services premises.

Agabi had argued that the defence team feared their discussions with Kanu might be monitored or recorded by the DSS.

The court therefore approved that the private meeting be held within the courtroom, with only Kanu and his lawyers present.

Source: Punch

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FG Considers Legal Steps to Repatriate Simon Ekpa Over Terrorism Case

Afinju FM — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 10:00:43 +0000

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen.

When asked whether the government intended to request Ekpa’s repatriation at the end of his jail term, Idris replied, “The Nigerian government will assess the situation and take decisions in the best interest of the country.”

Similarly, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), in a statement, noted that further steps would be taken once the judgment has been officially reviewed.

“We commend the Finnish authorities for supporting Nigeria in the fight against insecurity and see this as a signal of future collaboration. Appropriate further actions will be taken upon receipt and study of a copy of the court’s judgment,” the statement read.

Recall that the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland sentenced the Nigerian-born Finnish to six years in prison for terrorism-related crimes and other offences.

The 40-year-old former municipal politician from Lahti was convicted on multiple charges, including participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation, incitement to commit crimes for terrorist purposes, aggravated tax fraud, and violations of the Lawyers Act.

According to the judgment, between August 2021 and November 2024, Ekpa attempted to promote the independence of the so-called Biafra region in southeastern Nigeria through illegal means.

“He used social media to gain a politically influential position and took advantage of the confusion within a key separatist movement in Nigeria to play a significant role in it,” the court statement stated as reported by BBC News pidgin.

The court also found that Ekpa was instrumental in founding and developing the separatist movement into a more organised structure, working alongside others.

It was revealed during the trial that armed groups were established under the movement, which the court classified as terrorist organisations.

Reacting to the verdict, the FG welcomed the decision, describing it as a major step in the global fight against extremism and a boost to international legal cooperation.

In a statement signed by Idris, the government said, “This ruling stands as a watershed moment, not only for the countless innocent Nigerians whose lives and livelihoods have been brutally disrupted by the reign of terror incited and financed by Ekpa and his collaborators, but also for the strengthening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and Finland.”

Idris noted, “By upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is served, the Finnish judiciary has not only vindicated Nigeria’s consistent position on this matter but also sent a clear signal to extremists everywhere that the world is watching, and justice will catch up with those who seek to destabilise societies through terror.

The statement also reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and maintaining peace and unity through all available means, diplomatic, military, and judicial.

Calling on followers of Ekpa and others involved in separatist violence to renounce armed struggle, the government urged them to lay down their arms and embrace peace.

Source: Punch

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Chief of Defence Staff Vows to Name Terrorism Financiers

Afinju FM — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 10:38:14 +0000

The Defence Chief disclosed this while speaking on a national televison, stressing that naming the finianciers had been delayed because the matter involves legal complexities.

“I think the process of naming the financiers is on. The delay was because it had to do with a lot of legal issues, and because again, it has to do with international connections.

“Some of them have funds coming from outside, we cannot do anything from within. We know them,” he said, adding that other financiers are within Nigeria.

Musa further lauded the effort of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, in exposing financial links to terrorism.

“The NFIU has been doing so much to track terrorism funds. Apart from the intelligence setup, the financial links are also being followed through and through, and arrests have been made.

He also assured that the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu are working effortlessly to tackle the issues.

The military chief also said the State Security Services, the National Intelligence Agency, and other security agencies were working to track Nigerian politicians financing insecurity for personal gains.

“You know criminals work together. They synergise their efforts together, both the bandits and terrorists, because they have a common goal: they want to make money, they want to make sure communities are suffering for whatever reason,” he stated.

Source: PremiumTimes

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EFCC arraigns 11 Chinese, alleges plot to destabilise Nigeria

Afinju FM — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 07:42:54 +0000

The defendants who were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The development comes only a day after the anti-graft agency arraigned 42 Chinese and Filipinos for similar offences before the same Federal High Court in Lagos.

According to the EFCC, the foreign nationals were arrested during a raid tagged “Eagle Flush Operation” conducted on December 19, 2024, in Lagos.

Following their not-guilty plea, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke ordered that they be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre in Lagos.

The defendants are Wang Xiong Wei – alias Xiao Bai, Chen Dong Dong – alias Cun Zhao, Chen Yuan – alias Xiao Doa, Wu Yuan An – alias Zeng Niu, Wang Gong Lin – alias Wang Jing Lin, and Weng Mao Rong – alais A Xiang.

They were arraigned on separate charges relating to cybercrimes, cyberterrorism, possession of fraudulent documents, and identity theft.

According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly recruited Nigerian youths for identity theft and other cyber fraud schemes.

Additionally, five other Chinese nationals, Liu Ke Fan, Huang Hai Tao, Zhang Jian Feng, Wu A Wang, and Xiao Xin, were charged before the court.

In one of the charges, the EFCC accused Liu Ke Fan of impersonating a 28-year-old American named Lina, living in Germany, as part of a romance scam and cryptocurrency fraud operation.

Prosecutors alleged that in December 2024, Liu Ke Fan, with intent to gain advantage for himself and members of his criminal syndicate group, fraudulently impersonated a U.S. citizen using a fake profile on his company’s Maya desktop computer.

The EFCC further told the court that the defendant willfully provided false information during an investigation, falsely presenting himself as Liu Chen to mislead investigators and conceal his involvement in a criminal syndicate specializing in romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and cyberterrorism.

According to the anti-graft agency, the defendants belong to a syndicate of 792 individuals engaged in cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scams.

The EFCC stated that their actions violate Sections 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024), and Section 39(2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004.

After hearing the charges, the defendants pleaded not guilty.

Following their pleas, Justice Aneke ordered their remand at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending trial.

The court adjourned the case to February 21 and March 7, 2025.

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New terror group Lakurawa offers N1m incentives to recruit Sokoto youths

Afinju FM — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 07:49:39 +0000

This was made known by a Lake Chad Basin counterterrorism and insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama in a post on his X handle.

Makama disclosed that an impeccable source informed him that Lakurawa, allegedly composed of individuals from Mali, Chad, Libya, Niger, and Burkina Faso, was actively recruiting local youths in Sokoto through substantial financial incentives.

He stated that according to witnesses’ accounts, the financial lure is part of an aggressive recruitment campaign aimed at attracting followers to their cause.

The security expert said that Lakurawa, unlike traditional criminal gangs, reportedly adhere to extremist ideologies linked to the Khawarij sect, similar to the beliefs of Boko Haram.

Makama added that the Lakurawa extremists are yet to carry out any attack in the North West.

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ISWAP Kills Police DPO In Borno

Afinju FM — Wed, 22 May 2024 13:51:24 +0000

It was gathered that the DPO, a Superintendent of Police, was killed on Monday night while defending the police station at the resettled community from the terrorists who sneaked into the community on foot in the middle of the night.
Confirming the death on Wednesday, the spokesman for the Borno State Police Command, Nahun Kenneth, said the Command is still gathering details of the attack.
However, a military personnel serving in New Marte told Channels TV that the terrorists targeted one of the residents of the community who got hint and ran to the police station for protection.The military personnel said the terrorists got into the town on foot without their usual motorcycles and vehicles.
New Marte is 93 kilometers from Maiduguri at the fringes of the Lake Chad region. It is a resettled community which was initially overrun by the terrorists but was rebuilt by Professor Babagana Zulum administration.
ISWAP and rival group Boko Haram still launch sporadic ambushes on convoys from their hideouts and plant landmines along the highway.

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