The Senate has summoned the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Director-General over allegations of funding Boko Haram. This summons is in response to the concerning information that has come to light. The Senate seeks to address this matter with the utmost seriousness and urgency. The Senate has summoned the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Director-General over allegations of funding Boko Haram. This summons is in response to the concerning security situation in the region.
The Nigerian Senate has summoned the heads of the National Security Adviser, the National Intelligence Agency, and the Defence Intelligence Agency to appear before it regarding allegations that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been funding Boko Haram.
The move for an urgent investigation followed a motion by Senator Ali Ndume, prompted by a viral video of U.S. Congressman Scott Perry. Perry, a Republican from Pennsylvania, claimed during a congressional hearing that USAID had been involved in funding terrorist activities globally, including in Nigeria.
Ndume emphasized that this accusation came shortly after Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, warned that terrorist groups in the country were receiving financial and training support from international organizations.
The allegations also surfaced just days after Perry accused USAID of funding terrorist groups, including ISIS, al-Qaeda, and their affiliates like Boko Haram. Perry claimed that USAID’s $697 million annual budget had been directed towards extremist training camps and madrasas (Islamic schools).
The remarks by Perry were made during a session of an advisory body established by former President Donald Trump to review U.S. government spending. Trump, who has faced criticism for his stance on institutions like USAID, had previously suspended all foreign aid for 90 days in January to determine if the funds aligned with American interests.
