A former Chief of Army Staff has alleged that the terrorist group Boko Haram continues to receive significant sponsorship from both within Nigeria and foreign sources, warning that the insurgency cannot be sustained without strong financial and logistical backing.
Speaking at a security forum, the retired military chief said the resilience of Boko Haram and other terrorist groups suggests the existence of well-organised networks providing funding, intelligence, recruitment, and supplies.
According to him, tackling terrorism requires more than military operations, stressing that authorities must identify and dismantle the financial and logistical structures that enable insurgents to operate.
“Boko Haram has mega sponsorship from within and outside Nigeria. Until those sponsors are identified and brought to justice, the fight against terrorism will remain difficult,” he said.
The former Army chief called for stronger collaboration among Nigeria’s security agencies, financial intelligence institutions, and international partners to track and disrupt the flow of funds and weapons to terrorist organisations.
He also urged the Federal Government to intensify intelligence gathering, strengthen border security, and improve regional cooperation with neighbouring countries to prevent the movement of terrorists and illicit arms across borders.
Security analysts have long argued that defeating insurgency requires a comprehensive strategy that combines military action with intelligence-led operations, financial investigations, community engagement, and socio-economic development in affected regions.
Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have carried out numerous attacks in Nigeria’s North-East over the past decade, resulting in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions of people.
The former military chief reaffirmed that while Nigerian troops have recorded significant successes against terrorist groups, eliminating insurgency permanently will depend on exposing and prosecuting those who finance and support terrorism.
