Nigeria's Government Warns Landlords Against Renting to Terrorists

The Federal Government of Nigeria has issued a warning to landlords regarding the renting of properties to known terrorists, categorizing such actions as a criminal offense that could lead to imprisonment. Mijinyawa Zakari, a director in the Legal Office of the National Security Adviser, delivered this warning on November 3 during a press briefing following the 11th phase of terrorism suspect trials.

Zakari highlighted that the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022, encompasses a wide range of terrorism-related offenses, including preparatory acts prior to an attack, as outlined in Sections 11 to 33 of the law. He extended the warning to businesses, indicating that companies receiving funds linked to terrorism could incur a fine of N200 million, and their principal officers could face prosecution.

The government aims to broaden its approach to target not only perpetrators of terrorism but also the networks that facilitate such acts. Zakari urged public awareness of the law to support counter-terrorism efforts.