Retired Rear Adm. Yaminu Musa, the coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre in the Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA), says proceeds of kidnapping are partly used to finance terrorism.

Mr Musa said this on Wednesday in Abuja during the “Anti-Kidnap Multi-Agency Fusion Cell Media and Communication workshop”, organised by ONSA in collaboration with the British High Commission.

“Kidnapping for ransom is also identified as one of the means of funding terrorism,” Mr Musa said, noting that kidnapping and terrorism were major concerns globally.

He called for a concerted effort from the government, international community and citizens to curb the menace.

“You will agree with me that proceeds of kidnap for ransom enterprise have continued to serve as a platform for financing terrorism not only in Nigeria but across the Sahel,” he said.

Mr Musa said the workshop was pertinent to the overall success of the government’s effort to curtail the menace of kidnapping.

The coordinator said it was vital that the government and the media worked together to establish a framework of synergy and standardisation for reporting on security-related matters.

He said such collaboration would enhance the accuracy and quality of news reporting and contribute to national security.

The programme manager, National Crime Agency UK, Chris Grimson, said the purpose of the workshop was to identify and explore what was needed to create the fusion cell or whatever it turned out to be.

The workshop had participants drawn from the media, military, security agencies, ministries, departments and agencies.

(NAN)