Nigeria’s House of Representatives has called on the federal government to disclose the financiers behind terrorism and banditry in the country. The resolution was passed during Wednesday’s plenary following the adoption of a report on last week’s security debate.

The issue of terrorism financing has long been a concern. In 2022, the Nigerian government identified 100 high-risk financiers of Boko Haram. Then-Minister of Interior under President Muhammadu Buhari, Rauf Aregbesola, speaking at the 3rd Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing in India, revealed that these financiers “have links to at least 10 countries of the world.”

Represented at the conference by his aide, Abdulmalik Suleiman, Aregbesola highlighted the critical role of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) in supporting intelligence, security, and military operations. He said the NFIU’s collaborations with regional and international counterparts, particularly through the Egmont Group of FIUs, have been “a key asset for our country.”

He explained that an 18-month analysis of Boko Haram financing, conducted in 2019, traced transnational financial networks and led to the identification of nearly 100 high-risk financiers. The operation resulted in the arrest of 48 individuals and ongoing prosecutions. Neighboring countries, including Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Togo, provided vital intelligence during the investigations.

Earlier, then-presidential spokesman Garba Shehu said the government had arrested operators of 400 Bureaux De Change allegedly funding Boko Haram. However, Nigerians have repeatedly asked for the names of these suspects.

In response, government officials have emphasized the legal constraints around public disclosure. Femi Adesina, a former presidential spokesman, stated that the government prioritizes prosecution over “naming and shaming” suspects. Similarly, former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami (SAN) noted that revealing names prematurely would violate the constitutional presumption of innocence.

“Naming and shaming in the Nigerian context must be rooted in constitutionalism,” Malami explained. “Suspects’ identities are disclosed at judicial arraignment, and public notification follows conviction. The process is legal, not media-driven.”

The House of Representatives’ call underscores continued public pressure for transparency in the fight against terrorism financing and accountability for those who enable violence in Nigeria.