By Blessing Fali
The Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, has uncovered new methods allegedly being used by terrorist financiers to raise and move funds, including crowdfunding, proxy accounts and bank accounts linked to deceased persons.
According to the NFIU’s 2025 Annual Report, foreign-based facilitators have been using social media platforms to solicit donations under the guise of humanitarian relief and educational support before diverting the funds to terrorist operatives in Nigeria.
The report said donors were often encouraged to make relatively small payments, which were later pooled into master accounts and moved through various financial channels.
The NFIU also identified the use of women’s accounts as proxies, with some accounts allegedly controlled by male commanders or logistics managers.
Telephone numbers registered to deceased persons or unrelated individuals were also reportedly being used for mobile banking and transaction alerts, making it difficult for investigators to identify the actual beneficiaries.
The Unit further warned that terrorist cells were using coded transaction descriptions and other methods to disguise the purpose of payments and evade financial monitoring systems.
The NFIU said the findings had informed targeted advisories and intelligence products designed to help security agencies and financial institutions disrupt illicit financial flows linked to terrorism.
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