The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU ) has discovered 27 cells associated with the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra in 22 countries worldwide, including the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
According to a document obtained by Channels Television, dated February 26, 2024, the NFIU stated that the US and the UK host the highest numbers of IPOB cells per country, with seven and six cells respectively in each nation.
In 2017, the Federal Government outlawed IPOB and labeled it a terrorist organization. Nnamdi Kanu, its leader, is presently facing terrorism charges brought by the government.
In the “Counter Terrorism Financial Newsletter” released by the NFIU, IPOB’s operations were connected to 54 individuals worldwide.
The document revealed: “The NFIU confirmed that the diaspora affiliates of the IPOB group have spread over 22 countries across the globe. Further analysis exposed 27 entities across the globe registered in the name of the group, the US and the UK had the highest number of registrations, having seven and six registered entities, respectively.
“The analysis further indicates that the group has several bank accounts in different countries where funds are being received from various contributors with the narrations ‘Monthly Dues, Services and for ESN’, among others, then later disbursed for various operations.
“It was confirmed that one of the major sources of revenue for the group is crowdfunding by several individuals abroad, mostly Nigerians.
“It was observed that over $160,000 was disbursed to Transmission, Media, and Broadcasting companies in Bulgaria, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. The analysis profiled the leader of the group, his addresses, and mobile numbers abroad with other 53 individuals associated with the dissident group. The report was forwarded to Law Enforcement for further investigation.”
The NFIU further revealed that a betting platform, simply identified as ‘XC’, filed a Suspicious Transaction Report on a 24-year Nigerian customer from North-Central, Nigeria.
“This 24-year-old from Nigeria’s North-Central region received over N350,000 in his betting wallet, believed to be ransom money from a kidnapping,” the NFIU said.
In a separate instance, the financial intelligence unit uncovered a terrorist’s attempt to avoid detection. It observed that the individual engaged in structured cash withdrawals from various Automated Teller Machines and bought flight tickets to regions deemed high-risk, utilizing credit cards.
The NFIU elaborated that whenever the individual surpassed his withdrawal threshold, he resorted to alternative modes of transportation.
“The terrorist then attempted suspicious transfers exceeding €1,000 to a local charity with potential links to terrorism. These transactions, along with others for luxury goods and escort services, raised red flags,” the newsletter stated.
The NFIU called upon law enforcement agencies to scrutinize transactions involving individuals associated with known terrorists or financiers, unauthorized tax collection or coerced donations in areas prone to terrorism, and Bureau de Change operators facilitating transfers within suspected networks.
Additionally, the unit highlighted other areas for security agencies to focus their investigations, including multiple cash deposits in bank accounts, Point of Sale operators receiving substantial deposits followed by cash withdrawals, money transfers from Nigeria to high-risk countries, recruitment of individuals to open multiple bank accounts, and financial transfers to charities linked to terrorism.