Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has called on the Federal Government to launch an investigation into the recent allegations made by US Congressman Scott Perry that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been financing Boko Haram and other terrorist groups.
Information sourced by YEPS News indicates that Perry, a Republican from Pennsylvania, made the claim during the inaugural hearing of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency last Thursday. The hearing, themed “The War on Waste: Stamping Out the Scourge of Improper Payments and Fraud,” focused on alleged financial mismanagement of taxpayer funds.
During the session, Perry asserted that a staggering $697 million in US aid had been funneled to terrorist organizations, including Boko Haram, ISIS, and Al-Qaeda. He also accused USAID of allocating $136 million for the construction of 120 schools in Pakistan, with no tangible evidence that the schools were ever built.
YEPS News gathered that Ndume, speaking on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, stressed the need for Nigerian authorities to take the claims seriously.
“You can’t dismiss this as just an allegation; it’s more than that,” Ndume stated. “That’s why the Nigerian government and the National Assembly must step in to investigate and verify the authenticity of such a serious claim.”
Expressing deep concern, the senator highlighted the devastating impact of Boko Haram, one of the groups named in the allegation.
“This is alarming because Boko Haram has not only terrorized the North-East but has also spread its violence to other parts of Nigeria. We’ve seen their attacks on the police headquarters and the UN office in Abuja, causing massive casualties. The Nigerian government must not ignore this,” Ndume emphasized.
Reports obtained by YEPS News also reveal that Nigerian security agencies have previously raised concerns over certain international organizations operating in conflict zones. Ndume recalled instances where suspicions were raised about some NGOs, including a past intelligence-led raid on USAID and UN offices in Maiduguri under the leadership of then-Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai. He also referenced another operation where an NGO was suspected of training its staff in firearm usage.
“We have long questioned where these terrorist groups are getting their funding,” Ndume remarked, suggesting that the allegations should prompt a thorough and transparent investigation by Nigerian security agencies.
With these developments, YEPS News continues to monitor the situation, as the Nigerian government is expected to respond to the growing concerns over alleged foreign involvement in terrorist financing.