The Federal Government has named 48 individuals and groups allegedly involved in financing terrorism across Nigeria, in a move aimed at tightening the fight against insurgency and violent extremism.
The list, released on Saturday by the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NIGSAC), came shortly after the conclusion of the ninth phase of mass trials for suspected terrorists. The trials, held at the Federal High Court in Abuja, were conducted over four days by 10 judges and resulted in 386 convictions out of more than 500 cases linked to the Boko Haram insurgency.
Leading the government’s legal team was the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, alongside the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo. Many of the defendants were represented by lawyers from the National Legal Aid Council. Sentences handed down ranged from prison terms to life imprisonment, with courts also recommending rehabilitation and deradicalisation programmes.
Fagbemi described the outcome as a strong warning to individuals and networks involved in terrorism, stressing that Nigeria would not tolerate such activities within its borders.
Among those listed are already proscribed groups such as Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Ansaru, and Islamic State West Africa Province.
Also named is Finland-based separatist figure Simon Ekpa, who was convicted in 2025 by a Finnish court for terrorism-related offences. The court found that he supplied weapons and promoted violence through online platforms between 2021 and 2024.
Another prominent figure is Tukur Mamu, accused of acting as a negotiator in the Abuja-Kaduna train kidnapping. He faces a 10-count terrorism charge and is expected to open his defence later this month. Prosecutors allege he collected large ransom payments on behalf of Boko Haram and maintained communication with its representatives.
Authorities say investigations uncovered significant financial transactions linked to terrorist operations, including funds received from victims’ families. Mamu was arrested in Egypt in 2022 with assistance from Interpol and later returned to Nigeria.
The government indicated that extradition efforts may begin for suspects currently outside the country, reinforcing its broader crackdown on terrorism financing networks.
