IPOB raises $160,000 through monthly dues, crowd funding - Report

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has raised over $160,000 through monthly dues and crowdfunding efforts, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has disclosed.

This was made known in its recent ‘Counter Terrorism Financial Newsletter’.

The report indicated the secessionist group has a strong financial network that is linked to 54 individuals around the globe. This is despite the arrest and subsequent detaining of the leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The intelligence unit revealed in the report that the group's diaspora affiliation has expanded to more than 22 countries across the globe.

According to the report, the United States and the United Kingdom have the highest number of entities registered in the name of the group. 27 entities have already been registered and both countries have 6 groups respectively.

The report added several accounts across the globe have been discovered to be receiving funds for various pretexts such as “Monthly Dues, Services, and for ESN” from numerous contributors.

“Following receipt of the request, NFIU confirmed that the diaspora affiliates of the IPOB group have spread over 22 countries across the globe. Further AnalysisAnalysis exposed 27 entities across the globe registered in the group’s name; the US and the UK had the highest number of registrations, having 7 and 6 registered entities, respectively.

“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. 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 (One hundred and sixty thousand Dollars) was disbursed to Transmission, Media, and Broadcasting companies in Bulgaria, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. The Analysis profiled the group’s leader, his addresses, mobile numbers abroad, and 53 other individuals associated with the dissident group. The report was forwarded to Law Enforcement for further investigation,” it said.