Reveal 400 BDC operatives funding Boko Haram, Ndume tells FG

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, has appealed to the Federal Government to reveal all the over 400 Bureau De Change operatives lately apprehended for supposedly funding the Boko Haram insurgency activities in the nation.

Ndume, who is representing Borno South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, disclosed this in an interview with reporters in Abuja on Sunday.

The Senator, whose senatorial region is presently under the attack of the Boko Haram terrorists, likewise called for an open trial of all the suspects.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, had last month, disclosed that the Nigerian Government had apprehended some Bureau De Change operators who were aiding money transfer to Boko Haram terrorists.

He had said a few Nigerians transferring money to the group from the United Arab Emirates were working with the BDC operatives.

Shehu had said, “Bureau de change are facilitating money to terrorists. We have already worked with the UAE.

“Convictions have been achieved of Nigerians who are transferring money to Boko Haram terrorists and this also happens domestically.

“I tell you that by the time we finish this investigation, the shocking details will surprise many Nigerians.”

It was revealed that many people had been apprehended by security officials in an ongoing national firm action on suspected sponsors and Boko Haram collaborators.

It was learnt that the apprehended suspects were being kept in military and DSS facilities in Abuja and other places.

Ndume insisted that Nigerians have the right to know what the government was doing about the suspects.

He said, “The Presidency said recently that Nigerians would be shocked if it revealed the identities of those who are sponsoring the Boko Haram insurgents.

“Can you imagine that 400 Bureau De Change operators are the people funding the Boko Haram?

“When the BDC operators are arrested now, what will the government do with them? The Presidency is already saying their case is confidential. What is confidential about it?

“The Presidency should expose the identities of all the BDC operators so far arrested and carry out their trial in public.

“If any of them is innocent, he should be allowed to go while those found guilty must be made to face the music.

“When I was wrongly accused, I was tried publicly and I was vindicated. The trial lasted six years in an open court. If there is any criminal act linked to anybody. No matter how highly placed, let the evidence be placed before the public, there should be no secret trial.

“Nowadays, criminals are arrested and paraded without further action. Nobody knows what happens to the people who killed 11 soldiers in Benue State recently?

“What happened to those who beheaded policemen in Cross River State?

“If everyone is doing what he is supposed to do as defined by our constitution and laws, we would not have these problems. Citizens should expose suspicious movements.”