Former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has stated that he should not be held accountable for the failure to publicly name individuals allegedly financing terrorism in Nigeria.
Buratai made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he said the identities of those funding insurgent activities are already known to relevant authorities.
However, he noted that there are reasons the information has not been made public.
He emphasised that the responsibility for disclosing such details does not rest with him, adding that appropriate government agencies are better positioned to determine when and how the names should be revealed.
The former army chief also stressed that the alleged financiers remain within society and called for decisive action against them.
He maintained that his role was limited to military operations, noting that he only takes responsibility for matters within the mandate of the Nigerian Army.
On the issue of rehabilitating repentant insurgents, Buratai clarified that the programme was a policy decision of the Federal Government rather than a military initiative.
He explained that the military had set a deadline in 2016 for insurgents to surrender, after which those who complied were handed over to relevant authorities for rehabilitation.
Buratai further expressed concern over Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges, urging improved intelligence gathering and increased recruitment of security personnel to strengthen counterterrorism efforts.
Calls for the disclosure of terrorism financiers have persisted since 2021, when the Federal Government announced that it had identified individuals and entities allegedly backing insurgent groups.
Despite investigations by agencies such as the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, the identities of the suspects have largely remained undisclosed, drawing criticism from security analysts and civil society groups who argue that transparency is key to tackling insurgency.
