U.S. Assistant Secretary of
State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield
revealed this in a recent interview, after immense
cooperation by the Nigerian security agencies.
U.S had before refused to share their knowledge of the
sect's financial backing with themass media.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that the sect is using
Kidnappings and other illegal crimes to survive.
The U.S had been having problems tracking the route
of the Sect's financial backing after their usual method
of tracking did not work because Boko Haram operates
outside the banking system, They usually rely on a
range of measures to track financial transactions of
terrorist groups.
Boko haram are said to use a primary system of
couriers to move cash around inside Nigeria and
across the porous borders from neighbouring African
states, according to the officials interviewed by
Reuters.
When Obama labelled the group as terrorists, he said
that the group has links with al Qaeda, and the
Treasury Department confirmed this statement saying
it has proof of Boko Haram receiving support from the
Terror group.
The Treasury Department also said that even though
the help by al Qaeda is limited but:"Any financial
support AQIM might still be providing Boko Haram
would pale in comparison to the resources it gets from
criminal activities," said one U.S. official.
Boko Haram are estimated to make millions of dollars
through kidnappings and ransom operation, Last year
they were paid $3.15 million by French and
Cameroonian negotiators after they kidnapped
Frenchman Tanguy Moulin-Fournier, his wife and
four
children, and his brother while they were on holiday
near the Waza national park in Cameroon, close to the
Nigerian border.
The U.S estimate that Boko Haram makes $1 million
on
average for any abducted wealthy Nigerian.
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