Crime

Boko Haram: A Business Empire Demystified?

Published

8 years ago

June 29, 2017

By Richards Murphy

Let me ask Nigerians these pertinent questions. When security agents arrest suspected Boko Haram terrorists and find in their possession dangerous and high-caliber guns and bombs, does it strike anything in anybody? Or what do people think each time soldiers raid terrorists hideouts /caves and recover materials for the manufacture of lethal explosives used in committing atrocities? Can we understand why the ownership of dangerous weapons is regulated or outlawed in Nigeria, yet terrorists never lacked the supply?

No plausible interpretation of such developments, outside the visible manifestation of the business or entrepreneurial component of Boko Haram Terrorism (BHT). Nigerians are creatively very skillful people in everything they do. It did not take Biafran war mongers too long to begin the manufacture their bombs, called in Igbo vernacular as “ogbunigwe,” or “Ojukwu Bucket,” and other dangerous weapons during the unfortunate Nigerian civil war.

When I first heard of the reality of Boko Haram insurgency years back, my understanding of it was that of a small, negligible sect of religious extremists cum aggrieved thugs waging war on their political godfathers in Borno state, Nigeria. But I was dead wrong as later experiences revealed. It began to expand tentacles to other parts of the Northeast, Northern Nigeria, including Abuja and even the Southern parts of the country.

In 2011, Kogi and a few other states operated caves in forests for the manufacture of bombs and other weapons to feed insurgents with the raw materials they needed to commit the atrocities. That was barely within three years Boko Haram terrorism peaked in the country. Until security agents discovered and dislodged them, it became much easier for terrorists to attack Abuja, with bombs ferried from Kogi, hence it shares boundaries with the FCT. While Nigerians groaned in pains and sorrows, some criminal minds smiled to the banks with fortunes from such transactions with terrorists.

I murmured out loudly upon news that a Christian was among the suspects later arrested by Nigerian soldiers for the Christmas day bombing of churches, including St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla, Suleja, a Niger state suburb, near Abuja . What motivations that could tempt a Christian to connive with Islamic religious extremists to attack a church. The suspect, arrested in Bauchi state gave his name as Victor Moses and during interrogation, actually confessed to acting as a surveillance spy to the Kabiru Sokoto-led terrorists gang that bombed churches on Christmas day in Suleja.

The chronology of these events is suggestive of the immutable fact that Boko Haram has an active business wing. The indulgence of Nigerians into crime is difficult to erase. That’s why, a criminal, arrested and convicted for a crime and later granted pardon after spending years in jail, walks out of the jail to contrive fresh criminal plots again.

This is Nigeria’s nightmare at the moment in its counter-insurgency war in the Northeast and other parts of the country. The Nigerian military defeated the religious wing of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) in December, 2016. Leader of the anti-terrorism campaigns and Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai led Nigerian troops to accomplish this exceptional military feat, with the final demystification and demolition of Sambisa forest in Borno state. The forest, a colonial reserve was terrorists’ safest haven, where weapons and food were stored. It served as their paradise.

But as a master of the art of war, especially guerrilla warfare, terrorists’ most potent strategy, Gen. Buratai deployed several tactics and strategies to clip the wings of terrorists into defeat. He ensured insurgents sources of arms and ammunitions procurement were blocked; soldiers proceeded to also block sources of food supply to terrorists and their families, thereby ushering a period of unprecedented hunger on the deviants. Furthermore, soldiers combatively prevented insurgents from reckless abductions for ransom or for other such frivolous demands from the government.

As Nigerian troops pursued insurgents, they also went after their veiled agents and fished out many of them as possible. The whole camp of BHTs was in disarray, a development that railroaded the willful surrender and denouncement of the act of terrorism by hundreds of insurgents. They were famished and weakened to an appreciable level, as others too afraid to surrender to soldiers, fled Nigeria to take refuge in neigbouring countries. With sustained sensitization, majority of terrorists faulted the ideological stand of the leader of the sect, Abubakar Shekau, which spared nobody, but attacked mosques and churches, killed both Muslims and Christians’.

The disarray in the camp of BHTs reflected in the split into factions of Boko Haram leadership, one led by Shekau and the emergent faction spearheaded by Musab al-Barnewi.

But as the impact of terrorism in Nigeria waned considerably, agents of the devious sect who profited immensely in weapons manufacture and racketeering, which they found easy and lucrative markets in BHTs operations, were worried. As it is in our character, the business wing of BHTs is the component of Boko Haram insurgents desperately registering presence now with bombs and recruiting new members to terrorize inhabitants of Borno state and Nigeria.

The allied crimes identified with the operations of insurgents are refusing to go away. Aside secret bombs manufacturing business, Nigeria is also experiencing high level of secret importation or smuggling of deadly arms into the country. And sponsors of the illicit trade want to recoup the monies spent, investing in the business and also make profits. We should not live in deceptive illusion. The fact remains that for every cache of arms and ammunitions intercepted by the Nigerian Customs Service or security agents, much more of such arms importations have crossed the borders into Nigeria for circulation unnoticed.

It accounts for the current spate of bombings in parts of Borno. The Boko Haram entrepreneurs’ are not just ready to let go the business. The implied understanding is that if sounds of bombs no longer resonate, it will signal the end of terrorism in Nigeria and the abrupt termination of the thriving business.

This is the present battle against the peace, tranquility and stability of Nigeria. These agents of Lucifer are desperate to return Nigeria back to the dark old days and they have reached out to communities on Nigerian border nations to recruit more terrorists into the country. They have summoned every courage and arsenal to revive terrorism to rescue their business empire, both of which were perished with Nigerian soldiers’ defeat of Boko Haram terrorism.

So, for Nigeria, it is still a long night walk to dawn, insofar these elements have continued to operate almost freely. It is time for the security agencies to collectively resuscitate their intelligence network in partnership to confront these monsters. The Department of State Security Service and the Police have a great deal of work to do in this regard in order to sustain the peace and the victory in the battle against terrorism in Nigeria, as imposed by the Nigerian Army.

Murphy, a security expert writes from Ambo street, Calabar.

Crime

43 killed in during vigilante attacks in Kebbi, Niger States

Published

4 days ago

October 29, 2025

Our Reporter

At least 43 herders have been killed in a series of coordinated attacks by vigilante groups across parts of Kebbi and Niger States, according to community sources.

Soecial corresp9ndent, Zagazola Makama reports that the attacks, which occurred between Oct. 24 and 26, affected several rural settlements in Argungu, Arewa, and Bunza Local Government Areas of Kebbi State, where armed vigilantes reportedly invaded Fulani communities, killing dozens and setting houses ablaze.

In Lailaba District of Argungu LGA, particularly at Maini Fulani settlement, and in Bui and Tilli districts of Arewa and Bunza LGAs respectively, at least 37 people were killed, several others injured, and more than 200 houses destroyed. Many residents, including women and children, were displaced, while some persons remain missing.

Eyewitnesses said the attacks were carried out by groups of vigilantes who stormed the herders’ camps, shooting sporadically and torching homes. The violence was said to have begun on Oct. 24 in Argungu, followed by another on Oct. 25 in Bunza, and a third on Oct. 26 in Bui.

Community members alleged that the assailants came from neighbouring villages in Arewa LGA, including Yeldu District, while others involved in the Bui incident were said to have come from Tunga Bature, Tunga Tsoho, Bui, Sangela, and Danmairago villages.

Authorities in Kebbi have since visited the affected areas, promising to investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice. The state government also assured displaced families of support and called for calm to prevent further escalation.

Meanwhile, similar violence was reported in Edati Local Government Area of Niger State, where six Fulani herders were killed and more than 60 houses burnt on Sept. 21 in Ejjin, Runji, Majina, and Ginshi villages.

Such acts of reprisal and mob justice could worsen communal relations and heighten insecurity across the affected states.

Reacting to the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has condemned the attacks in a statement issued in Abuja by the association’s National Secretary, Bello Aliyu Gotomo.

The group described the killings and destruction of herders’ settlements as unjustified and inhumane, calling for the arrest and prosecution of all those involved.

MACBAN lamented that herders in the region were already contending with the activities of armed bandits locally referred to as Lakurawa, who extort illegal taxes, seize livestock, and terrorise rural dwellers.

“Now, in addition to these threats, peaceful herders are being attacked by vigilantes acting outside the law. Allowing people to take the law into their hands will only worsen insecurity across the state,” the statement warned.

The group further expressed grief over a similar incident in Niger State, where six Fulani herders were killed and more than 60 houses burnt by vigilantes on Sept. 21, 2025, in the communities of Ejjin, Runji, Majina, and Ginshi in Edati Local Government Area.

MACBAN said the violence followed a misunderstanding between a farmer and a herder, after which some vigilantes mobilised and attacked herders’ homes while the herder involved was already in police custody.

The association commended the Governor of Niger State for his prompt intervention, which prevented the crisis from escalating further.

MACBAN, however, called on the Federal, State, and Local Governments to urgently address the rising wave of insecurity affecting rural communities across the country, noting that the situation had severely impacted livestock rearing and farming activities.

“The security crisis in rural areas demands immediate and coordinated attention from all tiers of government to protect lives and livelihoods,” Gotomo stated.

Crime

Police arrest man for infantcide in Kaduna

Published

2 weeks ago

October 17, 2025

Our Reporter

The Police Command in Kaduna State has arrested a 35-year-old man, Shafiu Dahiru, for allegedly killing his three-day-old baby at Unguwan Lasa in Soba Local Government Area.

Sources told Zagazola that the suspect allegedly strangled and choked the infant, born to his wife, Hadiza Shafiu, aged 25.

Upon receiving the information, the DPO and his patrol team immediately mobilised to the scene and rushed the baby to a hospital, where a medical doctor confirmed the child dead.

Police authorities said the motive behind the tragic act is yet to be ascertained, while the suspect has been taken into custody for investigation.

At the family’s request, the baby’s remains were released for burial in accordance with Islamic rites, without a post-mortem examination.

The case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet investigation.

Crime

Three Jailed for Currency Counterfeiting in Kwara

Published

2 weeks ago

October 16, 2025

Our Reporter

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Ilorin has sentenced three persons to various jail terms for possession of fake Naira notes.

The convicts: Olaitan Dina, a 46-year-old aluminium fabricator from Maraba in Ilorin; Opeyemi Jeremiah, a bakery worker from Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State; and Adebayo Mayowa Abiola from Osi, Ekiti State, were arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and handed over to the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for investigation.

Investigations revealed that the Naira notes found in their possession were fake, with several bearing identical serial numbers.

The defendants, who were prosecuted on separate charge pleaded guilty to their respective charge. One of the counts against Dina reads:

“That you, Olaitan Dina sometime in July, 2025, at Ilorin within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court uttered 21 (twenty one) pieces of #1000 (One Thousand Naira) notes to one Abiola Adebayo; eleven of them are with the same serial number; Y/64 235922, five are of serial number; Y/64 235926, three are with serial number; Y/64 235923 and two are with serial number; Y/64 235917 respectively which you knew to be counterfeits and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 5(1)(a) of Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act, 1983 and punishable under Section 5 (1) (c) of the same Act”

Details of one of the counts against Jeremiah read:

“That you, Opeyemi Jeremiah on or about 19th July, 2025, at Ilorin within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court had in your possession 14 (fourteen) pieces of #1000 (One Thousand Naira) notes; seven of them are with the same serial number; Y/64 235922 three are of serial number; Y/64 235926, two are with serial number; Y/64 235923 and two are with serial number; Y/64 235917 respectively which you knew to be counterfeit and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 5(1)(b) of Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act, 1983 and punishable under Section 5 (1)(c) of same Act”

And, particulars of the charge against Abiola read:

“That you, Adebayo Mayowa Abiola on or about 19th July, 2025, at Ilorin with the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court did aid one Afolabi Habeeb Adebayo to procure 7 (Seven) pieces of #1000 (One Thousand Naira) notes; four of them are with the same serial number; Y/64 235922, two are of serial number; Y/64 235926 and one is with serial number; Y/64 235923 respectively which you knew to be counterfeits and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6(1) of Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act, 1983 and punishable under Section 5(1)(c) of the same Act.

During the review of facts, the EFCC counsel, Aliyu Adebayo, called Detective Abdulhakeem Sani Umar, an EFCC operative, who testified that the fake notes recovered from the convicts were sent to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja for forensic examination. The analysis confirmed the notes to be counterfeit.

Adebayo tendered the fake currency and the defendants’ extra-judicial statements as evidence, urging the court to convict them as charged.

In a well delivered judgment, Justice Awogboro held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

“The issue of Naira counterfeiting is a serious crime against the law and the society. I wonder what this country is turning into, many are involved in drug abuse, some in cybercrime, and now others in counterfeiting. The court must pass a sentence that will serve as a deterrent,” she said.

Justice Awogboro consequently sentenced Dina to 18 months imprisonment, while Jeremiah and Abiola each received 15 months imprisonment. All sentences are to run from October 15, 2025, without an option of fine.

The court also ordered that all counterfeit notes recovered from the convicts be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

End