– OLUKOYEDE, IDRIS PLEDGE STRONGER COLLABORATION ON FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE AND COUNTERTERRORISM
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps (NAIC) have agreed to strengthen collaboration in combating terrorist financing, money laundering, and other financial crimes undermining national security.
This partnership was reaffirmed on Tuesday when the Chief of Military Intelligence, Major General Aliyu Abbas Idris, led senior officers of the NAIC on a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, at the Commission’s Corporate Headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.
Collaboration Key to National Security – Army Intelligence Chief
Speaking during the visit, Major General Idris said the engagement aimed to reinforce the long-standing partnership between the two institutions and identify new areas of cooperation in the fight against financial and security crimes.
“We are here to seek your support and strengthen collaboration. Though the cooperation has always been there, I’m here to personally reaffirm it and ensure that it continues,” Idris stated.
The intelligence chief underscored the link between financial flows and terrorism, noting that addressing the funding channels of non-state actors is central to defeating insurgency.
“Waging war is expensive. You wonder how a non-state actor has sustained operations against a strong nation like Nigeria for 16 years. That tells you there’s funding somewhere. We have to work together to stop it,” he emphasized.
Trade-Based Financing Now a Threat
Major General Idris revealed that intelligence reports indicate a shift by terrorist organizations toward trade-based funding mechanisms, making collaboration with the EFCC indispensable.
“We’ve discovered that terrorists are now using trade-based processes to fund their operations. Without working with the EFCC, it will be difficult for us to uncover these financial trails. Your capacity in financial investigation is critical,” he said.
He also proposed a joint research initiative between the NAIC and EFCC to study and dismantle the financial networks sustaining terrorist groups and other transnational criminal organizations.
Olukoyede: Inter-Agency Cooperation Critical to National Stability
In his remarks, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede commended the Army Intelligence Corps for initiating the visit, describing it as timely and essential to enhancing national security coordination.
“The fight against terrorism and insurgency cannot be handled by one agency alone. It requires cooperation, intelligence sharing, and joint strategy,” Olukoyede said.
He assured the visiting delegation of the EFCC’s commitment to continuous collaboration, including real-time intelligence exchange and operational support.
“Rest assured that the EFCC will give you all the necessary support. We will exchange intelligence, compare notes, and strengthen synergy. This is not just about institutional pride; it’s about protecting the nation,” he added.
Olukoyede further reiterated that the EFCC remains dedicated to the national service mandate entrusted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, emphasizing that unity among security and law enforcement agencies is essential for national progress.
“We must always make Mr. President and Nigerians proud by showing that we are working together for the security and prosperity of the country,” he said.
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