The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has vowed to disrupt terrorist financing networks. This the agency said it would do by monitoring banking transactions and cutting off funds to bandits.
This was disclosed by the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, at the 2024 Annual Civil-Military Conference organized by Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMICO) at the National Defence College, Abuja.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman who was represented by the Director of Public Affairs Directorate, Commander Wilson Uwujaren, said the motive is to curb rising insecurity and banditry in Nigeria.
Olukoyede said that the EFCC will achieve this goal by working closely with the armed forces.
According to the Chairman, corruption breeds poverty. Which in turn, drives jobless individuals to embrace recruitment into banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism.
Oulkoyede explained that by blocking illicit funds, the Commission hopes to reduce the financial incentives for these criminal activities.
“Corruption is the key issue in terms of the promotion of insecurity in this nation. When people talk about insecurity and national development, one factor that is important to note is the implication of corruption on national security management and development.
“It is time for us to collectively fight corruption which has become a major challenge to our nation’s development. The loss of resources to corruption denies our nation the resources we should have used to provide infrastructure and digital services for our people, deepening the poverty we experience in this country.
“Corruption breeds poverty. Which in turn makes the jobless embrace recruitment into banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism. We will continue to monitor the flow of funds, especially in the banking sector. And ensure that illicit money doesn’t get into the hands of bandits, kidnappers, and terrorists,” Olukoyede said.
In his contributions, the Minister of State for Police Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, called for a concerted effort from all Nigerians to address insecurity.
He said, “Security affairs are everybody’s business, not just the police and other law enforcement agencies. We must join hands with the police and other law enforcement agencies to end the menace of insecurity.”
In his remarks, the Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Olumuyiwa Morakinyo Olotu, aligned with the previous speakers. He noted that the conference seeks to develop implementable strategies to tackle insecurity and promote national development.
In his earlier speech, the conference convener, Adams Otakwu, called for a synergy between the security operatives and the CSOs. He emphasized the need for genuine civil society organizations to promote patriotism and accountability.
“Civil societies must be genuine and not be involved in fraudulent activities. Our role is to call public institutions to accountability, not to indulge in blackmail. That is not activism. We must desist from that and engage in productive ventures.
“As civil society organizations, we are conscious of the society. If we lose it, we lose everything. It is not about money; it is about patriotism,” he said.
source: Vanguard
Follow us for more news on our WhatsApp News Channels @
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaC505jB4hdZ5Yx9g82U