In a bold stride against insecurity and corruption, the Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the recovery of N21 billion in illicit funds and the successful neutralisation of 78 terrorists in a series of coordinated operations across volatile regions of the country.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this in a press briefing held in Abuja, where he praised the joint efforts of security agencies and financial crime task forces in achieving the milestone. According to him, the operations are part of President Bola Tinubu’s intensified push to restore national security and clamp down on economic sabotage.
Idris revealed that the N21 billion was recovered through ongoing investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The funds are believed to be proceeds of embezzled public funds siphoned through government contracts and ghost worker schemes.
Simultaneously, coordinated counterterrorism raids by the Nigerian Army, Air Force, and Department of State Services (DSS) resulted in the death of 78 terrorists in the North-East and North-West regions. Intelligence reports had traced several terror camps to parts of Borno, Zamfara, and Katsina states.
“These efforts underscore the government’s resolve to combat terrorism and ensure that looters of public funds face the full wrath of the law,” Idris stated. He further noted that recovered funds will be redirected into social welfare programs and national infrastructure development.
Security analysts have hailed the development as a significant victory in the ongoing war against terror. According to them, the neutralisation of high-ranking insurgents weakens operational command structures and sends a strong message to others who may still pose a threat to national stability.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, applauded the bravery of the troops involved, stressing that the operations were intelligence-led and executed with minimal civilian casualties. He reiterated the Armed Forces’ commitment to eliminating all threats to peace in Nigeria.
On the financial front, the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed that more funds are expected to be recovered in coming weeks as investigations deepen into corrupt practices within ministries, departments, and agencies. He reaffirmed the commission’s non-stop efforts in recovering looted assets across multiple jurisdictions.
Civil society organisations have also urged transparency in the utilisation of the recovered funds, calling for independent audits and public disclosure to ensure accountability and restore trust in governance.
With these recent developments, the government has reiterated its commitment to waging war on two major fronts, security and corruption, promising that more decisive actions are underway to return peace, justice, and economic stability to the nation.
0 Comments