Nigeria’s Senate has summoned top security officials to investigate allegations that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been financing Boko Haram.
The move follows claims by US Congressman Scott Perry that USAID has unintentionally funneled around $697 million annually to terrorist organizations, including Boko Haram.
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The officials invited include National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and the heads of the Department of State Services, the National Intelligence Agency, and the Defense Intelligence Agency.
Senator Ali Ndume, who initiated the motion, raised concerns about Boko Haram’s funding sources and its continued ability to launch attacks despite past intelligence efforts to cut off financial support. He emphasized the need for a thorough probe to determine the credibility of the allegations.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged caution, stressing that security agencies must provide firsthand information before any conclusions are drawn. President Bola Tinubu also met with Akpabio to discuss the matter.
Meanwhile, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, has dismissed the allegations, stating that there is no evidence to support claims that USAID is funding Boko Haram or any other terrorist group.
