Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheik Ahmad Gumi, has denounced the Federal Government’s recently released list of entities allegedly linked to terrorism financing in Nigeria.
The Federal Government had unveiled a roster comprising nine individuals and six Bureau De Change operators and firms suspected of involvement in terrorism financing, as disclosed by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and shared with the press.
Entitled “Designation of Individuals and Entities for March 18, 2024,” the document revealed that the Nigeria Sanctions Committee convened on March 18, 2024, and recommended specific individuals and entities for sanctions due to their purported roles in terrorism financing.
In response to this development, Gumi voiced his objections during a Twitter spaces session organized by Daily Trust on Wednesday, asserting that no Nigerian would willingly fund terrorism.
He stated, “No Nigerian will put his money into terrorism, we’re beyond that. These people are financing themselves by taking our children for ransom.”
Gumi further elaborated on his stance, attributing the financing of terrorist activities to the ransom extracted from families of kidnapped victims.
“So, how can we say some people are financing terrorism because there is a misunderstanding between them?” he questioned. “Now they are looking for N1 billion for these children (kidnap victims) to be released. They (terrorists) financed themselves by kidnapping. I think it’s rubbish to just frame your political opponents as financing terrorism.”
Gumi’s remarks underscore a broader debate surrounding the complexities of terrorism financing and its intersection with various socio-political dynamics in Nigeria.
