Thursday, July 16, 2026

Peter Obi challenges Buhari regime to expose ‘highly placed’ Boko Haram sponsors, oil thieves

“When will FGN summon the political will to publicly name such persons?”

• August 31, 2022
A photo of Peter Obi , used to illustrate this story
Peter Obi

Labour Party’s Peter Obi has challenged the President Muhammadu Buhari regime to name and shame “highly placed” Nigerians who are allegedly financing the Boko Haram insurgency as well as those behind oil theft in the Niger Delta.

“I am struck and intrigued by the news report linking “highly placed” Nigerians to oil theft. The same has been the case with financing insurgency and Boko Haram,” the presidential candidate tweeted on Wednesday. “When will FGN summon the political will to publicly name such persons?”

The federal government had in February announced that it uncovered at least 96 financiers of terrorism and their supporters through the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). 

Lai Mohammed, Nigeria’s Minister of Information, said the government also unmasked 123 companies and 33 Bureau de Change operators linked with terrorism in the country.

Mr Mohammed, who was reading out the administration achievement then, however, didn’t mention the names of sponsors of terrorism.

But according to the Minister, the NFIU had intelligence exchanges on Boko Haram, ISWAP, banditry, kidnapping, and others with 19 countries.

“For its part, the analysis by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, in 2020-2021, revealed 96 financiers of terrorism in Nigeria, 424 associates/supporters of the financiers, involvement of about 123 companies and 33 Bureaux de Change”, Mr Mohammed said in February. 

Earlier in the month, the federal government declared a “national emergency” over massive pilfering of the country’s crude. Timipre Sylva, the Minister of State on Petroleum Resources, alleged that 400,000 barrels of crude oil was being stolen by criminals per day.

Speaking further in a series of tweets on his official Twitter page @PeterObi, the LP presidential candidate said it was important to call the attention of the Buhari regime to the menace to ensure there were no ‘sacred cows’, especially in the fight against insurgency in the country. 

“In the National Interest, there should be no sacred cows,” Mr Obi wrote further. 

While also showing his concern about the ongoing impasse between the government and striking university lecturers in the country, Mr Obi expressed hope that the ASUU strike would soon be called off with the intervention of the governors who have decided to mediate. 

“It’s gratifying that our governors have undertaken to mediate on the lingering ASUU strike,” he stated. “This is propitious and a remarkable show of leadership. Hopefully, such direct constructive engagement will bring this strike to an end soonest.”

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State

Heading 2

Kano empowers 1,900 butchers, to establish cottage industry hubs

He said the government had already made provision for the establishment of the hubs in the 2026 budget. 

IG Olatunji Disu

Heading 3

2027 Elections: Police commence recovery of illegal arms nationwide

Mr Kokumo said the centre had destroyed more than 16,000 unserviceable weapons since its inception.

FRSC personnel on highway

Heading 5

Court restrains FRSC from operating on Kano township roads

Mr Hikima sued the commission for unnecessarily stopping, searching and questioning him and other motorists. 

President Donald Trump

Heading 5

White House teleprompter operator rakes in over $100,000 betting on Trump’s speeches: Report

Investigators discovered Mr Perez placed bets on more than a dozen of Mr Trump’s speeches over a three-month period. 

Hot news Home top

Kidnapped Kogi school principal, NECO official, students regain freedom

Gunmen, on Tuesday, abducted a principal, NECO official and students during exam in Kogi school.