The Federal government is poised to unmask the shadowy financiers and enablers fueling terrorism across the country in the coming days, a top presidential adviser announced Sunday, as President Bola Tinubu’s administration ramps up aggressive countermeasures against the escalating threat.
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to Tinubu on Policy Communication, made the pledge during an interview on Television Continental, emphasising that far-reaching security decisions are underway to dismantle entrenched networks.
“The government is making decisive interventions. In the coming days, Nigerians will know who the terrorists are and those funding them,” Bwala declared, signalling an imminent public revelation aimed at cutting off financial lifelines to extremist groups.
Bwala framed the move as part of a broader intensification of anti-terrorism efforts, noting that the menace has morphed into a borderless global crisis demanding robust international alliances. He highlighted how post-9/11 dynamics have elevated such threats to a worldwide priority, with Nigeria’s instability rippling far beyond its frontiers.
“Since the events of 9/11, terrorism has been treated as a global security issue. Any nation where terrorists operate becomes a concern to the rest of the world,” Bwala explained. “This is why international partners must continue to cooperate with Nigeria in our efforts to dismantle terrorist networks.”
The aide pointed to the southward creep of extremism from the Middle East into the volatile Sahel region, urging tighter regional coordination to stem the tide. His remarks come amid Nigeria’s persistent battles with groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP, which have claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions in the northeast.
Echoing Tinubu’s recent continental stance, Bwala’s disclosure aligns with the president’s firm rejection of private military contractors in African conflicts — a position voiced through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the ongoing 7th African Union-European Union Summit in Luanda, Angola.
“We stand resolutely against the use of private military and security companies in African conflicts, as their presence often complicates resolution efforts and undermines state sovereignty,” Tinubu stated in the summit address, advocating for African-led, state-driven security initiatives under frameworks like ECOWAS and the AU.
Tinubu further decried the erosion of multilateralism, positioning the EU-Africa dialogue as a vital bulwark for shared security goals rooted in mutual respect. Analysts see these intertwined announcements as a strategic pivot, blending domestic crackdowns with diplomatic outreach to bolster Nigeria’s fight against transnational threats.
Security experts hailed the transparency pledge as a potential game-changer, though they cautioned that naming financiers could invite retaliation if not paired with airtight protections. No specific timeline beyond “coming days” was provided, but the revelations are expected to reverberate through ongoing intelligence-sharing pacts with Western allies.
