Abstract
Does counterterrorist financing (CTF) support the entire process of the global fight against terrorism? Finding answers to this question helps to address the difficulties facing relevant actors in defeating the Boko Haram (BH) terrorist group. This article examines the various funding strategies used by BH as well as the state, sub-regional and regional responses that have proven difficult in stemming the expansion of this terror group across the northeast and Lake Chad region. The study adopted qualitative research techniques through the use of Key Informant Interviews (KII) to gather data to address its central question. Findings of the article reveal that, regardless of the efforts toward containing the funding of this terror group, challenges remain in terms of the inability of relevant actors to operationalize the various CTF policies. Challenges include the institutional and techno-scientific challenges, the cui bono and prodest effect by beneficiaries of terrorism, uncoordinated CT strategies, the lack of political will by the relevant actors to address the challenge of TF and the structural conditions which render the CTF policies ineffective and help sustain the funding operations of this terror group. The study, among other things, suggests the implementation of various CTF policies and initiatives. Above all, effective border management and control besides effective intelligence and counterintelligence gathering systems to monitor and track the illicit flow of cash for terror-related activities should be an essential part of the initiatives. The strengthening of relevant institutions to address issues related to financial crimes, transnational threats, the arrest, and prosecution of sponsors of terrorism would enhance CTF. However, the CTF policies and initiatives require revitalization of the willingness of relevant actors to address the structural and systemic conditions facilitating BH funding activities across the Lake Chad region.
Highlights
Countering the sources used by terrorist groups to fund their activities is a major difficulty facing state and non-state actors in the fight against terrorism
This process involves the use of official documents from governments and multilateral agencies, academic and non-academic publications in addition to key informant interviews (KIIs) with experts familiar with issues related to terrorism, terrorist financing (TF), counterinsurgency, and the Boko Haram conflict
The problems associated with the poor state of Nigeria’s borders can be seen in the group’s ability to carry out various transnational criminal activities efficiently: a report by the United Nations suggested that border porosity contributes to 87% of pharmaceutical opioids controlled by Boko Haram across Lake Chad (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2017)
Summary
Countering the sources used by terrorist groups to fund their activities is a major difficulty facing state and non-state actors in the fight against terrorism (see Financial Action Task Force [FATF] Report, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2018; Lee, 2018) This is because terrorist organizations depend on a wide range of resources to carry out their activities and to constantly recruit members (Clarke, 2015; Freeman & Ruehsen, 2013; Lee, 2018; Myres, 2012). The growing literature and debate following the 9/11 attacks increasingly showed that any counter-terrorism strategy should incorporate measures aimed at combating how terrorist groups raise funds to finance their operations given that their survival and operational capacity rely on these aspects (Hoffman, 2002; Wittig, 2011) It is in this light that this article attempts to address the challenges of countering TF within the context of the Boko Haram terror group active in northeast Nigeria and the Lake Chad region. It points out to avenues for further studies by researchers interested in counterterrorist financing (CTF) and Boko Haram’s funding
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