The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has uncovered 27 cells belonging to the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) in 22 countries including the United States and the United Kingdom.
IPOB is a secessionist group seeking independence from Nigeria. It is led by Nnamdi Kanu who is in detention and being tried on terrorism charges by the government.
In a document titled “Counter Terrorism Financial Newsletter”, NFIU revealed that the US and the UK house the highest numbers of IPOB cells per country.
It disclosed that the US has seven cells while the UK has six.
In the document, NFIU said that 54 individuals are connected to the running of IPOB activities in different countries.
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“The analysis further indicates that the group has several bank accounts in different countries where funds are being received from various contributors with the narrations ‘Monthly Dues, Services and for ESN’, among others, then later disbursed for various operations,” NFIU said.
“It was confirmed that one of the major sources of revenue for the group is crowdfunding by several individuals abroad, mostly Nigerians.
“It was observed that over $160,000 was disbursed to Transmission, Media, and Broadcasting companies in Bulgaria, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
“The analysis profiled the leader of the group, his addresses, and mobile numbers abroad with other 53 individuals associated with the dissident group. The report was forwarded to Law Enforcement for further investigation.”
The NFIU added that a betting platform, known as ‘XC’, filed a Suspicious Transaction Report on a 24-year Nigerian customer from North-Central, Nigeria.
