The Chairman Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume has called on Federal Government to publish the names of the 400 Bureau De Change (BDC) operators alleged as sponsors of Boko Haram in Nigeria. Ndume made this call yesterday in Abuja while speaking with journalists, demanding that their trials should be made open for all Nigerians to see.
Ndume is a Senator representing Southern Borno Senatorial District has his home town under the siege of Boko haram for a long.
The Senior Special Assistant to the president on media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, had last month revealed that the Nigerian Government has unveiled Bureau De change operators who were used as a conduit for wiring money to the insurgents in Nigeria.
He said the said BDC operators were responsible for sending money to the insurgents through the United Arab Emirate (UAE).
Shehu said, “Bureaus de change are facilitating money to terrorists. We have already worked with the UAE.
“Convictions have been achieved of Nigerians who are transferring money to Boko Haram terrorists and this also happens domestically.
The presidential spokesperson added, “I tell you that by the time we finish this investigation, the shocking details will surprise many Nigerians,”
There were reports that the security agents have arrested scores of persons that were involved in the shady deal with Boko Haram, and a crackdown was already ongoing to expose others connected with them.
The report had it that some of the suspects were held custody by the military and the DSS detention facilities. However, Ndume insisted that it was necessary for the government to made their trial public and list their names so that the Nigerian populace will know them.
He said that government should stop the Ostrich game “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?
Ndume explained that after a thorough investigation, those found innocent should be let go, while those culpable should be made to face the law.
He said, “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 activity linked to anybody. No matter how highly placed, let the evidence be placed before the public, there should be no secret trial.
The lawmaker lamented that “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 State?
“If everyone is doing what he is supposed to do as defined by our constitution and laws, we would not have these problems. Citizens should expose suspicious movements.”
Speaking on the United States warning to its citizen on travelling to Nigeria, he said that is not a big deal; America has the right to advise its citizenry to just like he too will not advise anybody to travel anyhow in Nigeria.
The lawmaker said Nigeria is in a trying time as criminals have been let loose while there was an already existing security issue on the ground, another one has made it complicated in recent time.
Ndume advocated for engaging more able bodied Nigeria into the security forces with the state of the modern art equipment to face the enemy of the people head-on.
“All hands must be on deck. Citizens must provide useful information while the security agents should be adequately empowered with modern weapons to enable them to act fast whenever information is provided.
“I am scared and worried because I don’t have anywhere to run to. Right now I don’t have a visa to any country.
Ndume revealed that “Nigeria is the only country that I have that is why I am so passionate about my country. I believe so much in this country that is why I don’t travel out for my holidays.
“I spend all my holidays traveling from one state to another with members of my family. That is why the current security situation is of great concern to me.”
