In a groundbreaking revelation, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has uncovered a sprawling network of 27 cells belonging to the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) spread across 22 countries worldwide, including the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
According to the NFIU, the US and the UK host the largest numbers of these IPOB cells per country, with seven and six operational cells respectively, raising concerns about the group’s global reach and activities.
Details of this alarming discovery emerged in a newsletter exposing the funding of terror activities in Nigeria by IPOB, bandits, and other terror groups through global crowdfunding and sports betting platforms.
The Federal Government, having proscribed IPOB in 2017 and designated it a terrorist organization, is currently prosecuting its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, on terrorism charges.
The NFIU, in its “Counter Terrorism Financial Newsletter,” identified 54 individuals globally linked to running IPOB operations, shedding light on the group’s intricate financial mechanisms.
“The diaspora affiliates of the IPOB group have spread over 22 countries across the globe,” the document revealed. “Further analysis exposed 27 entities registered in the name of the group, with the US and the UK having the highest number of registrations.”
The report also disclosed that IPOB relies heavily on crowdfunding from individuals abroad, primarily Nigerians, with over $160,000 disbursed to various companies for media and broadcasting purposes.
Moreover, the NFIU highlighted suspicious financial activities, including a case involving a 24-year-old Nigerian suspected of receiving ransom money from kidnappings through a betting platform.
In another instance, the unit exposed a terrorist attempting to evade detection by making structured cash withdrawals and purchasing flight tickets to high-risk areas, raising red flags through suspicious transactions for luxury goods and escort services.
The NFIU has called on law enforcement agencies to intensify investigations into individuals linked to known terrorists or financiers, unauthorized tax collection, and other suspicious financial activities.
As security agencies tighten their scrutiny on various fronts, including multiple cash deposits, money transfers to high-risk countries, and recruitment efforts, the battle against terrorism’s financial backbone is far from over.
Stay tuned for further updates as the NFIU continues its relentless pursuit of financial criminals, ensuring the safety and security of the nation.