Illicit oil sales could be funding Boko Haram – U.S Congressman

Boko Haram men

A United States Congressman, Darrel Edward Issa, has suggested that there is a link between the Boko Haram sect and oil bunkering.

Issa, who spoke at a press conference in Abuja Tuesday, said the sect could be getting its funding from illicit trade of oil in the international market.

He also urged the Federal Government to end corruption in the sector to address the insurgency.

The congressman is visiting Nigeria as head of a U.S Congressional Delegation to the country.

He said, “As long as billions of dollars in oil is being sold, you have a black market that funds many things, Boko Haram can be a clandestine beneficiary of that money. Some of these areas are within the power of the Nigeria government, so when they end corruption they may also reduce the flow of that kind of money that goes into sponsoring terrorism.”

Speaking on the readiness of U.S to assist the country in tackling insurgency and boosting the military capacity, Issa added “this is a military that was allowed to fall into disrepair during the previous administration, there is no denying that. When morale is low, training is low and when the training is low the troops are not prepare to win. The use of South African mercenaries said a great deal about the end of the last administration, and the condition of the military. The US has been involved in training the Nigerian military and ready to do a great deal more.

“The number one thing we can bring to this government is professionalising training both in the skill necessary to kill and the appropriate action when they capture and take a community and both are our most important contributions and we also apply technical capabilities.”