FG To World Powers: Cut Terrorists’ Sources Of Funds

The Federal Government on Wednesday urged the international community to assist in the current fight against terrorism ravaging the Northeastern part of Nigeria by cutting the sources of funds for the Boko Haram sect.

The Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, made the appeal while responding to questions from reporters in Lagos at the closing ceremony of Exercise Obangame Express 2014, held at the Western Naval Command (WNC), where he represented the Minister of Defence, Gen. Aliyu Gusau Mohammed (rtd).

While acknowledging that the extremist sect has international sponsors, Obanikoro said the nation was collaborating with the international community because no single nation can tame terrorism.

“Despite being the richest nation in the world, the United States has not been able to tame terrorism in Afghanistan, Libya…same experience is what we are going through in Nigeria today.

“How to curb these challenges is the main reason we are cooperating and collaborating with the international community. Yes, it is happening in our country, but when funding is coming from oversees, that is not Nigeria.

“We are saying there is an international dimension to these crises that we are going through. We are not saying the whole world should come and join us in fighting but all we are saying is that the sources of funding for these terrorists should be cut off and that will to a large extent, help us in bringing the challenges under control,” he said.

On Exercise Obangame Express, Obanikoro said: “given the activities of pirates and the ideas of capacity building coupled with the globalisation of the world, it is important for nations to put resources together to conduct this kind of exercise because what affects a nation affects the others.”