By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
America is willing to help Nigeria identify and name the sponsors of Boko Haram, the Islamist jihadist group terrorising the North and turning it into a killing field where neither babies nor adults are spared its grip of death.
United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, disclosed in Abuja on August 30 at a roundtable with journalists on US-Nigeria military cooperation that America is eager to partner with Nigeria to fish out and name Boko Haram sponsors.
Muhammadu Buhari lied during his campaign in 2015 when he said he would tackle insecurity – because Nigerians now know that he has a Fulani supremacist agenda that protects Fulani killer herdsmen as well as Boko Haram terrorists.
Buhari also lied during the campaign when he said he would end medical tourism by government officials, including himself – because he has failed to upgrade health facilities and has instead been going abroad for medical treatment.
Buhari equally lies when he gives the impression that he is fighting terrorists who are merely doing his biding against Nigerians, particularly Northerners who are drinking from his cup of cruelty inflicted by criminals he fails to prosecute and jail.
So America publishing the names of terror sponsors in Nigeria means none of them will have nowhere to hide, they will be exposed to the world, even if Buhari still refuses to prosecute them.
Buhari knows terror sponsors, but engages in a ‘charade’
Leonard disclosed America’s interest in Nigeria’s security palaver five days after former intelligence chief, Kunle Olawunmi, a retired Navy Commodore, announced on Channels Television on August 25 that Buhari knows Boko Haram sponsors.
Olawunmi said all arms of national security apparatus also know Boko Haram sponsors.
“We are currently in the worst security situation in Nigeria today, some governors, ministers and Senators are sponsors of Boko Haram and the government knows them,” he told Channels Television.
He said Bureau De Change (BDC) operators, most of whom are Northerners, are also sponsors of Boko Haram are known to the Buhari regime and its agencies.
“Another security breach is that every Friday, NDA [Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna] and all government institutions are opened for Jumaat prayers. They come on Friday for worship,” Olawunmi added.
“Later they become members of the mess who will later spy on the institution and plan their attack.”
He said there must be insider collaborators in NDA because there are a lot of irresponsible people in Nigerian military formations.
“In a few hours the people that attacked NDA will be apprehended, but that’s not the solution. This government does not want to resolve this problem, rather they are escalating it.”
In Olawunmi’s view, the solution to insecurity is not kinetic [does not involve movement].
“You identify the center of gravity, which had been identified. The center of gravity is the sponsors of Boko Haram and bandits, most of these sponsors are known within the intelligence community.
“The DMI [Department of Military Intelligence], DSS [Department of State Security] and police intelligence know the sponsors very well, the DSS knows very well with tonnes of files of those sponsoring evil in this country.
“Defence Headquarters also knows all those who are behind the terror going on in Nigeria.”
“I was made a member of the committee in 2016-2017 including [the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim] Attahiru that died. I told them that the centre of gravity of Boko Haram in Nigeria is the sponsors of the programme.
“It was beyond us because the job we needed to do was kinetic but we cannot resolve issues of sponsors of Boko Haram that were in Buhari’s government that we know them.
“That was why we couldn’t pursue that aspect that could have resolved the issue because we need to arrest people ….
“You remember this Boko Haram issue started in 2012 and I was in the military intelligence at that time. We arrested those people. My organisation actually conducted interrogation and they (suspects) mentioned names.
“I can’t come on air and start mentioning names of people that are presently in government that I know that the boys that we arrested mentioned. Some of them are governors now, some of them are in the Senate, some of them are in Aso Rock.
“In April this year, the government said they had arrested 400 Bureau De Change (BDCs)-related people that were sponsoring Boko Haram. They told us.
“Why is it that the Buhari government has refused to try them? Why can’t this government bring them to trial if not that they are partisan and part of the charade that is going on?”
Other Nigerians express views on exposing terrorists
Nigerians North and South doubt Buhari’s willingness to accept the offer by the US to help identify and name the sponsors of Boko Haram, which has waged insurgency against Nigeria for 12 years running.
Yet security experts, former diplomats, and leaders of socio-cultural and civil society groups said the proposal is the best option at this point.
Their views are reported below by The Guardian (Nigeria)
Dennis Amachree (former Department of State Services (DSS) Assistant Director)
“The US has been positively disposed to supporting Nigeria, especially in the fight against terrorism, but the question is whether the federal government will embrace the gesture.
“Are we ready to arrest and prosecute these sponsors when exposed? Are we simply going to lock them away as has been done in the past? These are the concerns and the Americans may lose interest if we don’t take it seriously.
“Nigeria will do well to accept the offer as the country is really at a crossroads and will accept any help she can get. United States agreeing to support Nigeria means that they will come with some of their cutting-edge technology, which will boost the capability of Nigerian security agencies.”
Godwill Ombo (retired Rear Admiral)
“These are touchy questions. Who truly wants to end issues in his or her life that will not embrace any support to end such issues?”
Bola Akinterinwa (former Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) Director General)
“If the government of Nigeria is serious about the need to bring Boko Haramism to an end, the government should consider it as an opportunity to be taken advantage of.
“I remember that in 2020, either in July or August, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, accused the international community, particularly the big powers, that they were blocking all Nigerian efforts to deal with the Boko Haram group.
“Lai Mohammed by that time was accusing the United States, the big powers, their allies, holding them responsible for the government of Nigeria’s inability to contain Book Haram insurgency.
“Now, a year after, the US is offering to assist in knowing who is doing what, who is funding Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.
“It will be very illogical for the government of Nigeria to have accused the big powers in the year 2020 that they were blocking their efforts, now when they are de-blocking your alleged efforts, it will not make any sense for the government of Nigeria to refuse.
“What I am saying, in essence, is that the first point is that the government of Nigeria wanted assistance, but it was allegedly blocked. Now that the US is giving the opportunity of de-blocking, it is only logical to accept.
“The second point is that the Nigerian people have been asking Buhari to seek international collaboration to end Boko Haram.
“If the government accepts, he will be doing so in the spirit of public request that Boko Haram cannot be suppressed without international support. So, if they accept the support, it is consistent with the spirit of the public in Nigeria.
“Thirdly, the reason we should support US to reveal is that Nigerians themselves have been accusing the Nigerian government that the government knows all those who are responsible for Boko Haram.
“Theophilus Danjuma had already accused the military of aiding and abetting Boko Haram. Dr. Malaifa Obadiah told us the report of the meeting with Boko Haram commanders.
“Just last week, Commodore Kunle Olawunmi on Channel TV said that from 2007 to 2009, nothing has happened to the people they arrested for Boko Haram, that government does not knows.
“Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said there is a Fulanisation agenda. So, if Nigerians know those who are in charge but they did not say it, we need the intervention of a country like the US to reveal the secret.”
Emmanuel Yawe (Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) spokesman
“The time has come for the government to swallow its pride and cooperate with the American government to expose those behind terrorism and banditry that have nearly torn the nation apart.
“The offer by the US government to assist Nigeria in finding solutions to insecurity by exposing those behind it would go a long way in bringing an end to the challenges.
“For many years now, we have been battling with these security challenges. Our students have been captured; the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) was invaded and many people are still with kidnappers. And our government has not done anything.
“If the US is offering to render assistance, we should quickly accept it since our government appears to be incapable of identifying those behind insecurity and cannot combat it.
“We are in a desperate situation in Nigeria today. We should accept the American offer and allow them to help us out of this critical situation.”
Anthony Sani (former ACF Secretary General)
“The ability of the American government to confront and defeat terrorism is not in doubt and the US has done this in the past by not only exposing those behind terrorism but also fighting them.
“Terrorism transcends national boundaries.
“That was why Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda could base in Afghanistan and attack New York Twin Towers and Pentagon on 9/11. That was also why America put up a coalition of 66 and now 102 countries of all faiths to fight ISIS.
“It is all because terrorism is not a local phenomenon, but a global threat. That accounts for why America put a price tag of $7 million on the late Sheik Shekau.
“And when you consider identification of sponsors of terrorism as part of the mechanism to fight it, then there is nothing wrong in America helping Nigeria to know the sponsors with a view to curbing it.
“Sharing intelligence between and among nations can go a long way in improving the efforts to end the menace of terrorism that is now a global phenomenon.
“This underscores the need for a collective approach as against leaving the fight for individual countries, many of which lack the wherewithal to confront the menace of terrorism alone.
“The time it took America to fight terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the time Somalia has been fighting Al-Shabaab without success should underscore the need for a collective approach against the war against terrorism.”
Alex Ogbonnia (Ohanaeze Ndigbo National Publicity Secretary)
“With rising insecurity, the country needs as much collaboration as possible to curb it. Current developments are indications that Nigeria’s security forces can no longer handle the security of the nation.
“The level of insecurity in Nigeria requires international collaboration to overcome. Over the years, it has been proven that there is no way we can overcome the security challenges we have by ourselves without international support.
“We have always asked for international intervention; even in the time of Goodluck Jonathan, we had sought the support of the international community.
“The problem is that the government has not wholeheartedly defined support so that other people can appreciate the enormity of the problems they have.
“For instance, if you surf the internet, the global community sees herdsmen as a terrorist group. But in Nigeria, they are treated with kid gloves. What you call unknown gunmen, how can something remain unknown for a long time and you have security professionals? The advanced society hates this kind of double-dealing.
“If Nigeria begins to define things the way they are and with sincerity of purpose, you will see a way out of the security challenges we have.
“When the citizens are in danger, they run to them for the protection of their lives and property. When on the other hand the government appears to be overwhelmed because unscrupulous elements are in control of instruments of violence, there will be a problem.
“So, surely, it has come to the point where Nigeria has to define her problems very well so that the international community will see the sincerity in the approach to solving their problems.
“The offer by the US can help our society survive because we have come to a stage where we can no longer handle it alone.
“There should be no limitation in the struggle to free the country from the level of insecurity we are into. What is clear is that Nigeria can no longer manage its internal security alone.”
Goddy Uwazuruike (former Aka Ikenga President)
“Efforts to curb insecurity have not materialised because of insincerity, as the government has continued to neglect offers of assistance and information on crimes, especially those involving certain elements in the country.
“I know that in today’s world, there is one cliché ‘follow the money trail’. If you follow the money trail, you can see the movement of money and how it ends.
“This is one thing the Americans have built for a long time now, to trail those who are financing instability, financing terrorism, and other criminal acts.
“Look at Hushpuppi, what happened? The Nigerian government never did anything. The Americans are ready to trace what is happening and by the time they trace it to top officials, the federal government will start blowing grammar.
“In the same way, if the federal government is serious to fight corruption and those who are financing terrorism – Boko Haram and bandits – why is it reluctant to name those behind them?
“Those who shot down the military aircraft recently are not amateurs; they are professionals and to finance such an exercise, you need a lot of money. So, how did the money move? Nobody carries the money as cash; they send the money through the internet system and that is why the Americans are saying, ‘let us help you.’
“Believe you me, the Americans know. To move one million dollars in any account, there is an alarm that goes on.
“Now, the AK47, which the herdsmen carry, is about N450,000 or more. If you want to finance such a thing, you don’t carry cash; you move such money through the Internet.
“All wealthy people are operating with American knowledge. But whether the Nigerian government is willing, I don’t know.
“My worry is that the Nigerian government is not interested. If the Americans can say some persons are financing IPOB, the Nigerian government will jump up. Meanwhile, nobody has been able to trace one AK47 to IPOB, not even one.
“So, the federal government of Nigeria is not interested in the American offer, unless it concerns IPOB. I believe they will not even say they are rejecting the offer, they will [simply] ignore it.
“So, if the government wants to tackle insecurity in this country, it knows what to do and that is by accepting the offer and working with it.
“But I encourage the American government to continue to work. One day, a government that will be interested in those things will come into place.”
Chekwas Okorie (former National Chairman of defunct United Progressives Party)
“It is a welcome call because for many years, right from the time of President Jonathan, I have been a strong advocate of seeking international assistance to fight against insurgency in Nigeria.
“I have always advised that we cannot hide under the toga of national pride and be losing opportunities to seek help to solve a problem that has become so overwhelming and threatening the stability of the country.
“If the offer comes unsolicited, we should accept it with both hands. Helping to disclose sponsors of Boko Haram is like helping to solve the insurgency because everybody knows how sophisticated they are equipped and this thing costs a lot of money. You should know how much it is costing Nigeria even to defend Nigeria.
“So, I am in support of it, the government should defend it and if credible information is given to them, we would like to see the government act on it and let the public see that action is being taken.
“The problem we are having is this lack of enthusiasm to act on information available even to the government. I remember, not long ago, it was announced that no fewer than 400 Nigerians have been identified to be sponsoring Boko Haram or providing facilities for money laundering.
“We had hoped that those people would have at least been charged to court and when you charge them to court, it becomes public information and the list will be added there.
“But up till now, nothing has happened and it was the government that gave out that information and raised the expectation of Nigerians and that expectation is hanging.
“The offer will help boost the morale of the officers fighting various crimes, we will now know the people we are dealing with and how well connected they have been.
“The offer cannot undermine our security in any way. It will rather help it. The US has the technology to know. Did they get our permission to nail the DSP Kyari who was being hailed here? They still went ahead and exposed him.
“They have the information. All we need is to formally accept it and it will be there. They don’t need our approval to get into it; all they are saying is that we can give it to you if you so desire.
“But I think we should desire it. I think we should embrace the offer with open hands because that is information that is already available to them.”
Kunle Olajide (Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) Secretary General)
“Since the government has obviously failed and lacks the political will to apprehend the faces behind Boko Haram, there is nothing bad if any country within the international community offers to help us address the situation.
“There is need for foreign intervention in Nigeria’s security situation now because the incumbent government has severally told Nigerians that it has the dossier of all the sponsors of Boko Haram and that it would soon prosecute them but nothing is happening.
“Boko Haram has transformed into banditry and they are now using it to make money at the detriment of lives and properties of Nigerians. The idea is a welcome development if it will bring a solution.
“The US and some other world powers cannot afford to take their attention away from what is happening in Nigeria because they have their citizens here and other vested interests they would not overlook.
“If this government has failed to expose sponsors of Boko Haram, let help then come from outside.”
Ayo Adebanjo (Afenifere Chairman)
“It is not necessary for the American government to waste its time and resources to help Nigeria identify the sponsors of Boko Haram.
“Buhari has the agenda to Fulanise and Islamise Nigeria. The fact is that this government is establishing a Fulani domination with the aim to Islamise this nation. Of what need is America’s offer if the person at the helm of our affairs is a culprit.
“This President is establishing a totalitarian government on which the media is not hammering. The only power he is using is this present 1999 Constitution.
“America doesn’t need to come because we have what it takes to deal with the situation but the only obstacle is Buhari.”
Emmanuel Onwubiko (Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) National Coordinator and former National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria National Chairman)
“The Buhari administration lacks the will to take the right kinds of battles to Boko Haram terrorists for whatever pedestrian, clandestine and spurious reasons.
“So, it is not likely that the government will accept this opportunity and window offered by the United States government to identify and sanction the sponsors of Boko Haram terrorists in the country, which has waged continuous war against the Nigerian state and the citizens for over a decade.
“The implication of accepting the offer is that it will help to put an end to the troubles and terrorism of Boko Haram terrorists.
“If the government accepts the offer, which I think is really not even an issue, then it will be the first and most important step to demonstrate that the current administration actually wants to bring these saboteurs to the court of law to face punishment for funding the group that has killed over 30,000 citizens.
“The implication of not accepting is that Nigerians will then confirm their worst fears that the President and his officials are responsible for the spate of terror attacks by Boko Haram terrorists.
“Because if the government fails to act to bring the perpetrators to trial it then automatically means that the government supports Boko Haram terrorists.
“The strategic security importance of knowing the funders of terrorists is that it will offer the nation the much sought after opportunity to put to an end to the most dominant acts of terrorism that the nation has encountered for over 100 years.
“Then it will be an opportunity for both the government and the citizens to make sure that the perpetrators of terrorism face justice either locally or before the international criminal court in The Hague in The Netherlands for the crimes against humanity.
“Nigerians should mount pressure on the government of the USA to proceed without delay to list out the sponsors of Boko haram terrorists.”
Auwal Rafsanjani (Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) Executive Director)
“The question is whether Nigeria wants those sponsors identified.
“Nigeria’s security agencies are agreeably overwhelmed by the assortment of security issues demanding attention. Military units have been deployed to quell internal disturbances in 30 out of the 36 states of the country.
“Therefore, additional non-kinetic support against unrelenting insurgents in the northeast is ideal. This collaboration window currently offered requires that political commitment be harvested from those within the corridors of power.
“Recall that with an individual like Pantami and his recent Pandora box, it will be a big surprise if the government goes ahead to strike this accord. In fact, it will be the biggest upset in the administration.
“We knew how many times this regime has lied to Nigerians with the threat to publish the names of those who stole the country blind. Alas, nothing was ever published.
“I will conclude by saying that Nigeria will not take this issue forward. That is because of the numerous complicities in the entire chain of the Boko Haram operations. The military has severally come under fire for offering internal information to compromise troop operations.
“If this goes ahead, it then means that those who will fall into the sticky mud will be so numerous. Not just that, the categories of those who will be targeted will also be in high places.”
Jehu Nnaji (professor of international law and global politics)
“I urge the federal government to embrace the offer as it would help uncover the people behind the mask of terrorism in Nigeria.
“This is especially important as it will assist Nigeria greatly in eliminating terrorism from its roots.
“Whether these sponsors are within or outside Nigeria is immaterial but the fact remains that the sinister development going on that has been sabotaging the efforts of well-meaning Nigerians needs to be laid bare and until that is done we will continue to run around the circus and the effort of ending terrorism will be a moonshine.”
