DSS seeks inter-agency collaboration to tackle terrorism financing

 DSS seeks inter-agency collaboration to tackle terrorism financing

DSS seeks inter-agency collaboration to tackle terrorism financing

By Nicholas Kalu, Abuja on September 6, 2022

The Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi, has called for synergy among law enforcement agencies to tackle terrorism financing in the country.

Bichi spoke at a workshop on: Terrorism Financing Risk (TFR) organised by the service for law enforcement agencies and judicial officers yesterday in Abuja.

The director general, who was represented by the Director of Training and Staff Development, Brown Ekwoaba, said the overwhelming response from law enforcement agencies showed that all hands must be on deck to expose the underlying criminal activities of perpetrators for possible prosecution.

Bichi said beneath this expectation is a clarion call to action for improved inter-agency collaboration aimed at detecting, disrupting and preventing the abuse of the country’s financial system by terrorists and other criminal networks.

He said: “The ever-changing nature and sophistication of threats makes it imperative for security operatives to be critical thinkers in order to fashion out better and efficient ways to tackle threats.

“Among the evolving global crimes is money laundering and terrorism financial, which require the development of a working national anti-terrorism and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regime for the country.

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“Nigeria as a committed stakeholder needs to contribute its quota in protecting the integrity and stability of the international financial system by terminating resources available to terrorists as well as making it difficult for those engaged in crimes not to profit from their criminal activities, as stipulated in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

“This process requires countries to identify, assess and understand prevailing financial risks with a view to mitigating same. A nation striving for cohesion, like ours, must effectively disrupt terrorist networks through the application of anti-money laundering/countering financing terrorism measures.

“Through money laundering, criminal organisations and organised crime syndicates, benefit from their illegal activities, with some utilising cross border channels such as drug and human trafficking, arms smuggling, among others. “With criminal elements perfecting concealment of origin of illicit funds, it behooves on us, that a strengthened anti-criminal response to money laundering activities will contribute to cutting of sources of finance as well as countering the financial incentives, which drive the crime.

“It is my hope that this workshop will, among other things, demonstrate relevant investigative techniques adopted, and to be adopted by law enforcement agencies in countering terrorism financing as well as abilities to identify links between predicate offences and illicit financial activities.

“While I concede that the task to combat illicit flow of funds may be daunting it is, however, not insurmountable. Therefore, we must all join hands with knowledge, commitment and focus to change the tide.”

DSS’ Director of Operations, Joseph Nuhu Dashwep, said the service had developed and implemented a variety of strategies aimed at combating terrorist threats underpinned by a decisive focus on their finances.

The DSS chief stressed that regardless of the adoption of these measures, it is necessary to note that effective combating of financial crimes and terrorism is a collaborative effort involving all stakeholders, especially law enforcement agencies, financial intelligence units, regulatory agencies and the Judiciary.

“We must never lose sight of the complementary role each agency plays towards successful conviction of perpetrators of these crimes and their sponsors in line with Financial Action Task Force objectives,” he said.

The Deputy Director of Legal Services, Dauda Usman, also called for more collaborations to combat the menace of terrorism financing.