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Political Elites Sponsor Boko Haram To Protect Personal Interest - Security Expert
 [CHANNELSTV] A Security Consultant, Chigozie Ubani, on Wednesday gave a different perspective to the funding system of the dreaded Boko Haram... not to be confused with Procol Harum, Harum Scarum, possibly to be confused with Helter Skelter. The Nigerian version of al-Qaeda and the Taliban rolled together and flavored with a smigeon of distinctly Subsaharan ignorance and brutality... terrorist group, stating that influential businessmen who have businesses in the affected region and members of the political elite may be funding the group by buying protection from them. Ubani, who was a guest on Channels Television's breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, said that although he believed the government was making efforts tracing the source of the group's funds, the government was not employing all avenues possible, to tackle the situation. "I've refused to say they are not doing anything, but there are certain things I expect this government to do (or to have done), and that is the issue of funding," he said, citing the strategy used by the United States of America, after the 9/11 terrorist attack. According to him, the U.S government crippled the late Osama bin Laden ... who has left the building... 's financial capacity, which helped in limiting his power before he was killed. "I am very sure that our people are tracing these funds but why is it so difficult, he asked, also noting that the contributions being made by the political elite come to play in the whole situation. Politicians and some Nigerians have accused some governors and members of the political class of funding the terrorist group, however Ubani explained that the funds given by these people may not be to promote their activities but to protect their own interests and buy "their own bullet vests." He stated that those funding the group were doing so in trying to protect themselves and "in trying to be seen as not being against them". "These things happened in the days of kidnapping in the South/East when influential people were unknowingly funding kidnapping in the South/East...in trying to buy safety for themselves, they fund criminality." Mr Ubani further called for an investigation into the activities of influential businessmen and politicians who may be behind such funding. "There are big institutions and businesses in the north...these institutions are running. No one is attacking them. There owners should be looked upon, and see what relationship they have with these criminals." Posted by: Fred 2014-04-24 |
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