Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Boko Haram: Under Buhari, criminals only paraded not prosecuted: Ndume

“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?”

• April 26, 2021

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Ali Ndume, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime of only parading suspected criminals but do not prosecute them.

On Sunday, the senator told reporters that Mr Buhari’s regime had a history of parading criminals without prosecuting them.

He said, “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?”

Mr Ndume asked the president to reveal the identity of bureau de change operators arrested for funding Boko Haram terrorists.

He also demanded that the trial of the suspects should be public, insisting the government must punish the guilty.

Mr Ndume’s demands came weeks after the Presidency said it had uncovered sponsors of Boko Haram, including bureau de change operators.

“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 Boko Haram?” the APC senator asked.

Last week, Mr Buhari and the ruling APC threw their weight behind Isa Pantami, communications minister, despite damning evidence that he supported terrorist organisations like the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and Boko Haram.

He added, “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?”

Mr Ndume himself was linked to Boko Haram in 2011.

Explaining his ordeal, he stated, “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.”

Peoples Gazette in November reported that a Nigerian government official was indicted for channelling stolen public funds to finance terrorism.

Six other Nigerians in the UAE were convicted of funding Boko Haram in 2019. The conviction was upheld after an appeal.

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.”

Released Oyo hostages

Ibadan

Oyo Terrorists: ASNAT hails Oriiire schoolchildren’s military rescue operation

The Association of Nigerian Artisans and Technicians has commended President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian military for rescuing abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo state.

LGEA Primary School, Allor

States

Navy reaffirms commitment to national development through civil-military relations

Nigerian Navy chief Idi Abbas has reaffirmed commitment to national development through strengthened civil-military relations and sustainable community development initiatives.

Gov Okpebholo signs Edo agriculture college bill

Agriculture

Gov Okpebholo signs Edo agriculture college bill

The new law changes the institution’s name from Edo State College of Agriculture and Natural Resources to Edo State College of Agriculture, Science and Technology.

ADC, Accord Party, APP, AA, ZLP

NationWide

De-registration of ADC, Accord Party, APP, AA, ZLP: Appeal Court reserves judgement

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday reserved judgment in appeals challenging the Federal High Court’s decision ordering INEC to deregister five opposition political parties.

The Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians

Diaspora

Nigerian diaspora community says Jimoh Ibrahim’s appointment yielding results

The Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians applauded President Bola Tinubu for appointing Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s UN ambassador.

Adebo Ogundoyin

States

School Abduction: Oyo assembly backs Gov Makinde’s call for international investigation

The lawmaker cautioned the public and the Nigerian Senate against misinterpreting the purpose of the state governor’s call for an international investigation.