President Jammeh calls for concerted efforts to flush out terrorism

Gambian leader, Yahya Jammeh

The president of the Republic has called for concerted efforts to combat terrorism on the continent, condemning the current string of violence in Nigeria, meted out on innocent civilians by the group ‘Boko Haram’.

Speaking at the Banjul International Airport Friday evening upon his return from Nigeria where he took part in a human security summit as part of activities marking that country’s centenary, His Excellency Shiekh Prof. Alh. Dr. Yahya Jammeh lamented the myriad of proxy wars on the continent, noting that such could only retard progress.

“It has to be a concerted effort to fight terrorism,” he reiterated, calling on African leaders to work together and fight the common enemy – terrorism and other violent crimes.

The Gambian leader said it is his conviction that if everyone is committed to the fight against terrorism, there wouldn’t be any such menace in that they [terrorists] would not be safe anywhere to perpetuate acts of violence against innocent people.

“We the heads of states have realised that whatever group they are called in Nigeria, it is a criminal enterprise,” he remarked, questioning the wisdom of killing innocent people in the name of Islam. “So terrorism is not for one country to fight it, especially we in Africa given the porosity of our borders,” he told reporters.

Jammeh also condemned the fact that certain “crooks” are being used by outside forces in the name of religion or tribe to take on a government in a country that is rapidly developing. 

Bankers Seek End to Money Laundering, Identity Theft

The Lagos State Chapter of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has expressed concern over incidence of money laundering, terrorism financing and identity theft in the country.

The body also stressed the need for more initiatives to address such fraudulent activities in the banking system, even as it expressed delight over the recent launch of biometrics. According to the Lagos CIBN, biometrics would help to track down fraudsters in the system.

Speaking ahead of its forthcoming conference on anti-money laundering, terrorist financing and identity theft management to hold in Lagos between March 24th and 25th, the First Vice-Chairperson, CIBN, Lagos Branch, Mrs. Taiwo Ige, said the impact of the such fraudulent activities on individuals, the nation and organisations were enormous.

According to her, the conference would expose lawyers, bankers and operators in other sectors to modalities on how to tackle money laundering and identity theft in order to encourage investment in the country and protect depositors.