FOCUS has been on the terrorists that have been attacking the North East, but a new set of terrorists have emerged, though ignored, they are cutting off whatever ameliorations are planned for victims of terror. The new terrorists disrupt aids meant for victims of terror. They are not new to their game, they only change garbs.

When the President launched the Terror Victims’ Fund, last August, perennial presidential friends and newer arrivals shelled out over N58 billion in one night for the fund. The performance exceeded the President’s expectations by N8 billion. How has the money been used? How many redeemed their pledges? How can so-called philanthropists be benefitting from the plights of victims of terror through unearned publicity?

On 8 November 2012, a similar gathering raised N11.35 billion for victims of Nigeria’s worst flooding in 50 years. More than two years after, most donors have not paid. Last year, the Presidential Flood Relief and Rehabilitation Committee threatened to name them after a June 30 deadline. The committee asked them to “respect themselves and maintain their honour and integrity”, by redeeming their pledges. The committee failed to name them, covering their crime.

Some of the fraudsters, who masqueraded as philanthropists at the November 2012 fund raising, turned up at the August dinner and promised money they have no plans to pay. President Goodluck Jonathan effusively praised the latest “philanthropists”. It was a replay of his ebullience at the 2012 event. He made no mention of the botched relief fund for flood victims, though those who should account for its failure were present.

What did the President promise the August diners? He promised tax incentives to the November 2012 “philanthropists”. The flood fund committee made a public complaint that without contributing their pledges, some of the pretenders cashed the presidential incentives, a criminal offence that should have been punished under appropriate laws. They were not punished. Unfortunately, the matter appears rested.

Already there are complaints that relief materials meant for victims of terror attacks were being diverted, meaning that in addition to unredeemed pledges, relief materials may not get to victims, as was the case during the 2012 flooding.

It is time we started treating criminals, whether in low or high places, with the ignominy they deserve. It would not be adequate to receive their pledges whenever they pay. Why the silence over the fraud? Is the President unaware of the crime?

Without fraudsters in 2012 being punished, it is not surprising pledges for the Terror Victims’ Fund in suffering the same fate, in addition to relief materials being diverted. Stringent measures, including sanctions, are necessary to deter shameless fraudsters wherever they are found.