The Nigerian Senate has called the leaders of the National Security Adviser, the National Intelligence Agency, and the Defence Intelligence Agency to testify on allegations that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is funding Boko Haram.
Senator Ali Ndume requested an urgent probe after raising concerns about a viral video showing Republican Congressman Scott Perry of Pennsylvania. Perry claimed at a congressional hearing that USAID had been involved in sponsoring terrorist activities around the world, particularly in Nigeria.
Ndume highlighted that this assertion came shortly after Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, warned that overseas organizations were providing funds and training to terrorist groups operating in the country.
The claims came just days after Perry accused USAID of sponsoring global terrorist groups like as the Islamic State, al-Qaeda, and local affiliates like Boko Haram in Nigeria. Perry said that USAID’s $697 million annual budget was used to subsidize terrorist training camps and madrasas (Islamic schools).
The U.S. senator, a member of former President Donald Trump’s Republican Party, made the statement during a meeting of Trump’s advisory council on US government spending.
Critics accuse Trump of aiming to weaken agencies such as USAID. In January, he suspended all foreign aid for 90 days to examine whether the payments were aligned with American interests.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli