The Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has urged the Federal Government to investigate a claim by U.S. Congressman Scott Perry that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) allegedly funded terrorist groups, including Boko Haram.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, the former Senate Committee on Army Chairman described the allegation as “too weighty to be ignored”, calling on the National Assembly to probe the claim.
“You can’t say it’s just an allegation; it’s more than that,” Ndume stated. “The Nigerian government must investigate and verify the veracity of such a very worrisome claim.”
The senator noted that suspicions have long existed about foreign humanitarian agencies operating in Nigeria’s insurgency-hit North-East, with security agencies previously raising concerns about the role of some NGOs.
He recalled that during the tenure of Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, the Nigerian Army raided an office linked to USAID or the United Nations in Maiduguri based on intelligence. He also cited a case where security operatives raided an NGO training staff on how to handle firearms.
“We have been wondering for all these years where these people are getting money,” Ndume remarked, stressing that the government must take the claim seriously, given Boko Haram’s devastating impact on Nigeria.
“Nigeria Should Give Aid, Not Receive It” – Ndume
Ndume further argued that Nigeria should not rely on foreign aid, saying the country has the resources to be a donor nation instead of a recipient.
“Nigeria should be giving out humanitarian assistance to other countries and not receiving aid,” he stated. “This is a wake-up call for those in government. Our problem is leadership, not resources.”
The senator lamented that over 50,000 people have been killed and millions displaced due to Boko Haram’s activities, urging better governance to harness Nigeria’s vast resources for self-sufficiency.
