Former Army Chief Buratai Says Authorities Know Boko Haram Financiers
Retired Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, a former Chief of Army Staff in Nigeria, has asserted that the identities of individuals financing terrorism in the country are already known to relevant authorities. He made these remarks during a televised interview on Channels Television's Politics Today, responding to growing public demands for the disclosure of alleged Boko Haram backers.
Financiers Known but Not Named
Buratai emphasized that the responsibility for publicly naming terror financiers does not rest with him or the military. "You cannot say I should be responsible for naming the financiers of terror," he stated. He explained that security agencies are aware of those supporting terrorist activities but have chosen not to release their names for reasons best known to them. Buratai rejected claims of military failure in this regard, stressing that accountability must align strictly with institutional roles. "It's not just about mentioning names; those agencies know why the names are not released. Action should be taken; these individuals are still within society today, and they are known," he added.
Military Role and Rehabilitation Policy
Buratai also clarified that the rehabilitation of repentant Boko Haram fighters is a government policy decision, not a military initiative. He detailed that the armed forces implemented a framework approved by civil authorities in 2016, which allowed insurgents who surrendered within a set timeline to be transferred to designated agencies for rehabilitation. "The initial concept that we had was that we gave them a timeline to surrender in 2016, and if they surrendered, we gave them a free passage and handed them over to appropriate agencies to rehabilitate them," he said. This policy has been part of Nigeria's counterterrorism strategy amid the prolonged insurgency in the North-East.
Broader Security Concerns
The former army chief raised concerns about Nigeria's wider security situation, calling for enhanced intelligence gathering and increased recruitment of security personnel. He argued that tackling terrorism requires better coordination across agencies and sustained investment in intelligence capabilities. Nigeria has faced significant challenges from Boko Haram and its splinter groups, with identities of alleged financiers largely undisclosed despite reports from bodies like the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, fueling criticism from civil society and security analysts.
In related developments, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State recently urged the military high command to launch a fully coordinated offensive across the Lake Chad region to dismantle Boko Haram and ISWAP hideouts. He delivered this message while hosting the new Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, during a visit to Maiduguri. Zulum warned that current security gains will not hold unless the armed forces confront entrenched cells around the Lake Chad islands.
