The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has said that the federal government is ready to prosecute 400 alleged Boko Haram sponsors and financiers arrested in a nationwide operation.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his spokesman, Umar Gwandu, the minister said that criminal charges bordering on terrorism will be leveled against the suspects.
He noted that the government will soon re-activate special terrorism prosecution courts to try the suspects, adding that the Muhammdu Buhari-led government is committed to ending insecurity in the country.
The statement read in part; “The federal government is committed to ending insecurity in the country, and added that the courts are to bring to book all those found guilty in connection with terrorism so as to serve as deterrence to others.
“In addition to the prosecution of 400 suspected Boko Haram financiers, the measures taken by the government will counter the twin trouble of insurgency and insecurity in the country.”
Naija News recalls that dozens of persons were arrested by security agents in a nationwide crackdown on suspected financiers and collaborators of Boko Haram and other criminal groups.
It was gathered that the operation was led by a top intelligence officer, with an army general leading a task team comprising military personnel and staff from intelligence services.
A source told Daily Trust that an initial list of 957 suspects comprising bureau de change operators, gold miners and sellers, and other businessmen was acted upon.
In Kano, a major focus for the operation, traders at the foreign exchange open market in Wapa, Fagge Local Government, were picked up on March 9, 15th and 16th.
Prominent among the BDC operators arrested in the state include Baba Usaini, Abubakar Yellow (Amfani), Yusuf Ali Yusuf (Babangida), Ibrahim Shani, Auwal Fagge, and a gold dealer, Muhammad Lawan Sani.
Four of the arrested BDC operators were related to two persons jailed in Dubai last year on similar charges.