Security analyst and lawyer, Bulama Bukarti, has warned Nigerians to be more careful about the organisations and individuals they donate money to, following revelations by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) on how terrorist financiers raise and move funds.

Bukarti, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Tuesday while reacting to the NFIU’s 2025 Annual Report, which detailed how terrorist groups exploit crowdfunding campaigns, social media platforms, bank accounts and remittance services to conceal illicit funds.

According to the report, foreign-based facilitators sometimes disguise fundraising appeals as humanitarian, educational or medical assistance before soliciting small donations through platforms such as Telegram and Signal. The funds are later consolidated and transferred to Nigeria in smaller amounts to avoid triggering anti-money laundering alerts.

Bukarti said unsuspecting Nigerians could unknowingly become involved by donating to fraudulent causes or allowing others to use their accounts or identities to receive funds.

He also warned Nigerians against carrying packages or luggage for people they do not know or trust, noting that individuals could unknowingly become couriers for criminal or terrorist networks.

The analyst urged Nigerians to verify the identities and purposes behind fundraising appeals before making donations, while calling on authorities to strengthen the links between BVNs, SIM cards and other identity systems to prevent their abuse. (Channels TV)