Allegations of support for terrorist groups from within Nigerian political and official circles, and details specific instances of Nigerians financing Boko Haram from Dubai, it does not explicitly identify the sanctioned individuals as "Northern Nigerian politicians" or "armed forces of Fulani origin."

Here's a breakdown of the information available:

1. Allegations of Support from Nigerian Officials and Elite: There are reports indicating the "alleged provision of support by certain West African politicians and public officials to terrorist and likeminded groups". Specifically in Nigeria, "prominent Nigerians, including high-ranking government functionaries and security officials, are alleged to have sponsored attacks by Boko Haram". There are also allegations that "low and high-ranking politicians and military officers collaborate with criminal networks involved in oil bunkering".   

Furthermore, some political leaders from Northern Nigeria have reportedly claimed that armed groups are "not terrorists, just a mere business organisation engaging in kidnapping for ransom," which is seen as downplaying the threat. The opposition party (People's Democratic Party - PDP) has alleged that the refusal by the Nigerian government to expose the sponsors of terrorism, including six Nigerians reportedly sent to the Federal Government by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as terror sponsors, validates their stance that such individuals have connections with the ruling party.  

2. Dubai/UAE Exposure and Sanctions: The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated a network of six Nigerian individuals for their connection to the Nigeria-based terrorist group Boko Haram. These individuals were convicted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for establishing a Boko Haram cell in the UAE to raise funds and provide material assistance to Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria.   

The six individuals are:

• Abdurrahman Ado Musa    

• Salihu Yusuf Adamu    

• Bashir Ali Yusuf    

• Muhammed Ibrahim Isa    

• Ibrahim Ali Alhassan    

• Surajo Abubakar Muhammad    

These individuals were found guilty by the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeals on April 17, 2019, for transferring $782,000 from Dubai to Boko Haram in Nigeria. Salihu Yusuf Adamu and Surajo Abubakar Muhammad were sentenced to life imprisonment, while the other four received 10-year sentences followed by deportation. The UAE Cabinet also issued Resolution No 83 of 2021, designating these individuals among others for supporting Boko Haram and other terrorist causes.   

While some of these individuals have addresses in Kano State, Northern Nigeria (e.g., Abdurrahman Ado Musa ), the available research does not specify their occupations as "politicians" or "military officers," nor does it explicitly state their "Fulani origin." However, the broader context of allegations against Nigerian elites and officials, particularly from the northern region, is noted.   

3. Fulani Involvement in Armed Groups: Separately, the research indicates that "armed Fulani jihadist factions tied to JNIM, Macina Liberation Front, and ISGS... are believed to be influencing or directly coordinating with militias in Nigeria". The refusal to legally designate Fulani militias as terrorists is noted to hinder efforts to track their funding and punish their sponsors. Fulani pastoralists are also identified as prominent actors in armed banditry, with speculation about their affiliation with Boko Haram insurgents. These armed bandits are primarily motivated by economic benefits, which can also "lubricate a challenging insurgent campaign".   

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In the Northern and central states of Nigeria where kidnapping with brutal killings by guns and machete, many people knows the actors of these terror are linked with high ranking fulani political elites and armed forces support. The brutal killings are mostly tagged bandits by governments but many Nigerians believe these actors are fulani linked terrorist groups. 

This a critical and deeply concerning aspect of the security challenges in Nigeria's Northern and Central states, where the lines between criminal banditry and terrorism often appear blurred, and public perception frequently points to alleged high-level complicity. Research indeed sheds light on these complex dynamics:

The Nature of Violence and the "Banditry" Label: The violence in these regions, characterized by brutal killings, kidnappings, and widespread insecurity, is a severe threat. While the Nigerian government often labels the perpetrators as "bandits," many Nigerians believe these actors are, in fact, linked to terrorist groups, particularly those with Fulani affiliations. This distinction in labeling is not merely semantic; it has significant strategic implications. Experts argue that refusing to legally designate these groups, particularly Fulani militias, as "terrorists" is a "strategic collapse". This is because classifying them as mere "bandits" limits the government's ability to:

• Track their funding.

• Share intelligence internationally.

• Effectively punish their sponsors.

The political leadership's insistence on referring to these groups as "bandits" rather than "terrorists" is seen as downplaying the threat they pose.

Alleged Links to High-Ranking Elites and Armed Forces: There are persistent and concerning allegations of support for these groups from within Nigeria's political and security structures:

• Political and Official Complicity: Reports indicate the "alleged provision of support by certain West African politicians and public officials to terrorist and likeminded groups". Specifically in Nigeria, "prominent Nigerians, including high-ranking government functionaries and security officials, are alleged to have sponsored attacks by Boko Haram".   

• Military Collaboration: Allegations also abound that "low and high-ranking politicians and military officers collaborate with criminal networks involved in oil bunkering". While oil bunkering is a criminal activity, it highlights a nexus between state actors and illicit networks that could indirectly benefit or be linked to armed groups. Furthermore, a "public servant with a law enforcement agency" was identified as having financial ties to a terrorist leader's network, underscoring the complexity of these illicit financial flows.   

• Political Downplaying: Some political leaders, particularly from Northern Nigeria, have reportedly claimed that these armed groups are "not terrorists, just a mere business organisation engaging in kidnapping for ransom". This stance, coupled with the government's alleged refusal to expose terror sponsors, has led the opposition party (People's Democratic Party - PDP) to claim that such individuals have connections with the ruling party.

Fulani Link and Affiliation with Terror Groups: Research indicates a connection between armed Fulani groups and broader jihadist networks:

• Fulani Actors in Banditry: Scholarly works identify "Fulani pastoralists as prominent actors in the armed banditry".

• Affiliation with Jihadists: There is "growing speculation that the armed bandits are affiliated with Islamist Boko Haram insurgents". Boko Haram and its allies, such as Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, maintain a significant presence and carry out attacks in Nigeria's North-West.

• Coordination with Broader Networks: More directly, "armed Fulani jihadist factions tied to JNIM, Macina Liberation Front, and ISGS (Islamic State in the Greater Sahel) groups... are believed to be influencing or directly coordinating with militias in Nigeria". This suggests that what is often termed "banditry" may be part of a larger, ideologically driven insurgency, sometimes described as a "proxy war with ethnic and religious motives".

• Economic Motivation and Insurgency: While armed bandits are primarily motivated by economic benefits like kidnapping for ransom, cattle rustling, and illegal mining, these economic gains can "further lubricate a challenging insurgent campaign". Those who sponsor illegal mining are also noted to sponsor rural banditry and cattle rustling to create conflict and displace populations, which then creates opportunities for illegal miners.

Dubai/UAE Connection: The link to Dubai and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in financing terrorism from Nigeria has been explicitly exposed through sanctions:

• The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated six Nigerian individuals for their connection to Boko Haram.

• These individuals were convicted in the UAE for establishing a Boko Haram cell to raise and transfer funds to insurgents in Nigeria.

• They were found guilty by the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeals in April 2019 for transferring $782,000 from Dubai to Boko Haram.

• The sanctioned individuals include Abdurrahman Ado Musa, Salihu Yusuf Adamu, Bashir Ali Yusuf, Muhammed Ibrahim Isa, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, and Surajo Abubakar Muhammad. Some of these individuals have addresses in Kano State, Northern Nigeria.

While the research material confirms the involvement of Nigerians in financing Boko Haram from Dubai and highlights allegations against high-ranking Nigerian officials and military officers, it does not explicitly state that the sanctioned individuals were "Northern Nigerian politicians" or "armed forces of Fulani origin." However, the broader context strongly suggests that elements within the Nigerian elite, particularly from the North, are implicated in facilitating or benefiting from these violent activities.