By DAYO ADESULU
Security Constraints Prevent Public Trial of Terror Sponsors, Lawmaker Explains
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Defence, Jimi Benson, has clarified why the government cannot expose terrorism financiers in Nigeria, despite mounting calls from citizens demanding full transparency. His explanation comes at a time when frustration is growing over the perceived silence of authorities on individuals allegedly bankrolling violent extremist groups across the country.
Benson gave the clarification during an interview on Prime Time on Arise Television, where he shed light on sensitive intelligence operations that restrict the government from naming or publicly prosecuting the individuals involved.
Financiers Under Long-Term Surveillance, Lawmaker Reveals
According to the lawmaker, several suspected financiers—both within and outside the country—have been under close surveillance “for a very long time.” Security agencies, he noted, have already identified some of the key actors and are actively compiling the evidence required to dismantle their networks.
“The financiers of terrorists in Nigeria cannot be tried in public. A lot of them are under scrutiny for a very long time now. By scrutiny, I mean tried and identified. Some of them are local, and some are international,” he said, adding that the public may not fully understand the extent of the work currently underway.
Benson stressed that while Nigerians may be eager to see names published, the government must prioritise national security above public disclosure. Revealing the identities prematurely, he warned, could compromise intelligence operations, alert suspects, and jeopardise ongoing cross-border investigations.
Sensitive Intelligence Operations Make Public Trials Impossible
Expanding on why government cannot expose terrorism financiers in Nigeria, Benson explained that terrorism financing cases often involve international money trails, covert communication channels, and collaborations with foreign agencies. For these reasons, public trials could sabotage years of intelligence gathering.
“The public cannot know who they are because of security,” he emphasised, adding that any responsible administration must carefully manage how sensitive intelligence is released.
Security analysts say such caution is not unusual. Terrorism financing investigations often require months or years of encrypted financial tracking, witness protection, and multinational cooperation before suspects can be safely prosecuted.
Government Has Made Significant Progress, Benson Assures Nigerians
Although many details remain classified, Benson assured the country that the government has made remarkable progress in weakening the financial structures that enable terrorism. He noted that pressure from intelligence agencies has forced several suspects to retreat from their activities.
“A lot of them can’t think of financing anybody anymore,” he said confidently. “I can assure you that work is in progress. A responsible government will deal with these people at the appropriate time.”
His remarks follow recent operations by the Defence Intelligence Agency, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, and global partners who have intensified efforts to freeze accounts, track suspicious transactions, and dismantle shadow networks that support terrorist groups.
International Partners Deeply Involved in Tracking Terror Networks
Benson also revealed that some of the breakthroughs recorded so far were achieved through international collaborations. Countries with advanced anti-terrorism capabilities, he said, are working closely with Nigeria to identify sponsors who move funds across borders using informal networks, cryptocurrency channels, or shell companies.
“The government is actively tracking and prosecuting these individuals, and there is significant international assistance to ensure they are brought to justice,” he explained.
Diplomatic sources say countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and several West African neighbours remain involved in intelligence sharing to disrupt the flow of weapons, logistics, and money to insurgent groups like Boko Haram, ISWAP, and bandit militias.
Public Anxiety Grows, But Security Agencies Urge Patience
Despite Benson’s assurance, many Nigerians remain anxious. Years of insurgency, mass abductions, and rural attacks have fuelled demands for the government to take tougher action against the so-called “big men” suspected of bankrolling terrorists.
Still, security experts caution that naming suspects prematurely could lead to lawsuits, diplomatic incidents, or operational collapse. The risks, they say, far outweigh the emotional satisfaction of immediate public disclosure.
A Delicate Balance Between Transparency and National Security
The debate over why government cannot expose terrorism financiers in Nigeria continues to intensify, especially as insecurity persists across several states. Benson’s explanation attempts to strike a balance between transparency and national security, assuring Nigerians that although silence may appear suspicious, critical work is ongoing behind closed doors.
For now, Nigerians are encouraged to remain patient as intelligence agencies move closer to what insiders describe as “a major breakthrough” that could reshape counterterrorism efforts in the country.
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