Anthony Sani: Terrorist Financing and Arms Supply Pose Major Security Threat

By Ibrahim Hassan‑Wuyo

Anthony Sani, former Secretary‑General of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has warned that the ways terrorist groups acquire funding and weapons pose the most pressing challenge to Nigeria’s security efforts.

Addressing the growing sophistication of insurgent operations, Sani said the enduring question of how militants secure arms and financial resources remains a major concern for security experts and governments worldwide. He recalled the years of international investigation into the funding networks that sustained the Islamic State (ISIS) across the Middle East.

According to Sani, Nigeria faces a comparable dilemma. Terrorist groups operating in the country continue to possess advanced weaponry and substantial financial resources. He cited earlier remarks by Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, who warned that insurgents such as Boko Haram and ISWAP can acquire arms and foreign currencies, including funds reportedly held in dollars.

Sani argued that the Defence Chief’s comments underscore the scale of the threat and raise questions about potential international networks supporting terrorist activities. He stressed the need for ongoing vigilance and coordinated action by security agencies to uncover and dismantle the channels through which terrorists receive funding and logistical support.

He urged security personnel to intensify surveillance and tighten checks along Nigeria’s borders to curb the influx of illegal arms and ammunition. He noted that porous borders have long facilitated the movement of weapons and criminal elements across the region.

The former ACF spokesman also called on financial regulators and security agencies to strengthen oversight of banking transactions and other financial activities that could be linked to money laundering and terrorism financing.

He emphasized that disrupting the financial lifelines of terrorist organisations is essential to weakening their operational capacity.

Sani cautioned that defeating terrorism is a complex undertaking that requires patience, commitment and sustained investment in intelligence gathering and security operations.

He maintained that the fight against terrorism is a collective national responsibility, demanding the combined efforts of government, security agencies and citizens to achieve lasting success.