TheCable

Matthew Kukah, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto diocese, has asked the federal government to interrogate “key Nigerians” who claim to have close ties with bandits.

On March 20, the federal government said it uncovered the identity of 15 entities, including nine individuals and six Bureau De Change operators and firms, allegedly involved in terrorism financing.

In an interview with Channels Television on Tuesday, Kukah said it is clear that the government, through intelligence, knows what is going on.

He added that those who have publicly claimed ties with the bandits should be interrogated. 

“It is clear that the federal government at the highest level knows what is going on. At least the intelligence community has an idea,” he said.

“There are key Nigerians who are saying openly that they know more than they think the rest of us know, and I think that it is the business of the federal government to find out those who claim to know where the bandits are; those who are collaborating and cooperating with the bandits.

“It is the greatest humiliation of our nation. The security agencies in collaboration with those who have said openly that they know what is going on… I think the federal government has the capacity to go after those people.” 

There has been an uptick in kidnapping for ransom in Nigeria’s northern region in the last decade.