Nigeria’s efforts to fight jihadist teams threat being undermined by its on line casino sector, in keeping with a brand new report.
ISWA fighters showcase their weapons in a propaganda video shot in Northeast Nigeria. May the area’s casinos be contributing to the issue? (Picture: Guardian.ng)
The West African state has been battling extremists in its northeast for one of the best a part of 20 years. And it’s redoubling efforts to chop off terrorism financing within the wake of a recent wave of assaults by the jihadist group Islamic State – West Africa Province (ISWA).
However Nigeria’s 300 casinos might be contributing to the issue by enabling cash laundering, in keeping with West Africa’s monetary intelligence company, the Inter-Governmental Motion Group towards Cash Laundering (GIABA).
Excessive Danger
GIABA mentioned the casinos, based mostly primarily in Nigeria’s largest metropolis, Lagos, and its capital, Abuja, had been “comparatively excessive threat” for cash laundering. Whereas they’re required to file suspicious transaction experiences (STRs) to the Nigerian Monetary Intelligence Unit (NFIU), most don’t.
GIABA advised {that a} lack of utilized sanctions for non-compliant operators contributed to the issue. The group additionally expressed concern that solely eight NFUI workers members oversaw the casinos out of greater than 200 staff.
Nigeria carried out its first nationwide threat evaluation (NRA) of cash laundering and terrorism in 2016. It had been anticipated to conduct one other this 12 months. However GIABA complained it had not been in a position to uncover whether or not this had occurred.
The report, titled Cash Laundering Dangers of Casinos and the Playing Sector in West Africa, examined the six member nations of the Financial Group of West African States which have casinos: Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Cabo Verde, the Ivory Coast, and Benin.
However the variety of casinos in Nigeria dwarfs that of its neighbors, which have simply 26 between them.
Terror Assaults
Most terrorist assaults in Nigeria are carried out by Boko Haram or ISWA, a Boko Haram splinter group that has not too long ago turn out to be extra dominant.
These teams routinely goal humanitarian camps, safety forces, church buildings, colleges, mosques, authorities installations, academic establishments, leisure venues, and street vacationers, in keeping with the US State Division.
Roughly two million Nigerians have been displaced by the violence in Northeast Nigeria. In the meantime, greater than 300,000 youngsters have died within the battle, in keeping with Al Jazeera.
Most not too long ago, on July 5, ISWA gunmen bombed and attacked a jail within the Federal Capital Territory, facilitating the escape of an unknown variety of prisoners.
Boko Haram made headlines worldwide in 2014 when it attacked the Federal Authorities School of Buni Yadi, Yobe State, killing 59 boys. Two months later, the group kidnapped 276 women from a faculty in Borno State. Most had been pressured to transform to Islam and offered as little one brides.
