The Federal Government has signalled a tougher crackdown on individuals and businesses providing logistical, financial or other forms of assistance to terrorist organisations, warning that such involvement could attract lengthy prison terms and corporate sanctions.

Mijinyawa Zakari, a director in the Legal Office of the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja while briefing journalists on the outcome of the 11th phase of terrorism suspects’ trials, according to Vanguard.

He said the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022, extends criminal liability beyond those directly involved in terrorist attacks to people who provide accommodation, resources or platforms for activities linked to terrorism.

Zakari explained that individuals found guilty of providing support to terrorist groups could receive a minimum of 20 years’ imprisonment. He specifically cautioned property owners against knowingly making their premises available to terrorists, adding that organising meetings for terrorist groups could also constitute an offence, even where no attack takes place.

He further warned that companies accepting funds connected to terrorist activities could face a N200 million fine, prosecution of their principal officers and possible winding-up proceedings, irrespective of whether the money was eventually deployed in carrying out an attack.

The NSA official urged journalists and other members of the public to study Sections 11 to 33 of the Act, which outline various terrorism-related offences, including preparatory activities and the provision of material or financial assistance.

He said the government was expanding its counter-terrorism enforcement efforts to identify and prosecute individuals and corporate bodies whose activities sustain terrorist networks, stressing the importance of public awareness of the legal consequences of such involvement.