The Federal Government has warned landlords against renting out their properties to terrorists, declaring that anyone caught providing accommodation or other forms of support to terrorist groups risks prosecution and lengthy imprisonment.
The government also warned individuals and organisations against hosting preparatory meetings for terrorist groups, saying such activities are criminal offences under the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.
The Director of the Legal Office of the National Security Adviser, Mijinyawa Zakari, gave the warning during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, following the conclusion of the 11th phase of trials of terrorism suspects.
Zakari explained that the law covers a wide range of terrorism-related activities, including preparatory offences, collaboration and the provision of material or financial support to terrorist organisations.
He stressed that landlords could be prosecuted for knowingly renting their properties to terrorists, even where no direct act of violence had been committed on the premises.
According to him, providing support to terrorism attracts a minimum 20-year prison sentence, while holding preparatory meetings with terrorist groups also constitutes an offence.
He said the government was adopting a comprehensive strategy to target not only terrorists who carry out attacks but also individuals and organisations who facilitate their activities.
Zakari urged Nigerians, particularly journalists and other stakeholders, to familiarise themselves with Sections 11 to 33 of the Act to understand the full range of activities criminalised under the law.
He also warned companies against receiving funds linked to terrorism, disclosing that businesses involved in such transactions could face a N200m fine, prosecution of their directors and possible liquidation, whether or not the money was eventually used to carry out terrorist activities.
He said the government was strengthening its investigative capacity to identify and prosecute more individuals and organisations involved in terrorism financing and other forms of support.
Zakari added that the crackdown would extend to both direct perpetrators and their collaborators, irrespective of their level of involvement.
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