Bukarti warns terrorists exploit social media, remittance apps to raise funds
Security analyst and lawyer Dr Bulama Bukarti warned Nigerians on Tuesday that terrorist groups are exploiting social media platforms such as Telegram and Instagram, as well as international money transfer services, to raise funds. Speaking on Channels Television, Bukarti said the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) found that individuals outside Nigeria collect donations ranging from $50 to $500 into a master account before breaking the money into smaller amounts and sending it to recipients in Nigeria through remittance channels to evade financial regulations. He stressed that his warning is not meant to discourage genuine humanitarian or educational giving but urged Nigerians to verify the identity and trustworthiness of recipients before donating. Bukarti recommended stronger measures, including linking Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) to SIM cards, and cautioned against being asked to carry items for others, which could be used to move illicit funds. He called on security agencies to conduct prompt investigations and prosecutions, noting that law‑enforcement failures do not justify mob action.