Senator Ali Ndume has urged the Federal Government to thoroughly investigate a weighty claim made by US Congressman Scott Perry, alleging that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) had indirectly funded terrorist organizations, including Boko Haram.
Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, made this call during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics program. He emphasized that the allegations could not be dismissed as mere speculation, given the longstanding suspicions that some foreign humanitarian agencies operating in Nigeria’s conflict-ridden North-East might be involved in financing terrorist activities.
“You can’t say it’s just an allegation; it’s more than that,” Ndume stated. “That’s why the Nigerian government and the National Assembly must investigate and verify the veracity of such a serious claim.”
Ndume, a ranking senator with over two decades in the National Assembly, highlighted that Nigerian security agencies had previously raised concerns about the questionable activities of certain aid organizations in the North-East.
He recalled a controversial raid carried out by the Nigerian Army under the leadership of then-Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, on the offices of USAID and the United Nations in Maiduguri. Additionally, he pointed to an incident where security agencies stormed an NGO allegedly training its staff on how to handle firearms.
> “This development is very worrisome, especially because one of the terrorist organizations mentioned by Scott Perry is Boko Haram, which has not only devastated the North-East but has also extended its destruction to other parts of Nigeria,” Ndume stressed.
The lawmaker recounted the horrors of Boko Haram’s insurgency, citing high-profile attacks such as the bombing of the police headquarters and the United Nations office in Abuja.
> “The casualties were enormous. So, the Nigerian government must take this revelation seriously,” he added.
Ndume lamented the tragic consequences of terrorism in Nigeria, noting that millions had been displaced and over 50,000 people killed in the nearly two decades of insurgency across Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states.
He also questioned Nigeria’s continued reliance on foreign aid, arguing that the country should be providing humanitarian assistance to others rather than being dependent.
> “This issue of relying on aid from other countries is not even good for us. By now, Nigeria should be giving out aid, not receiving it,” Ndume said. “This should be a wake-up call for all of us in government. Our problem is leadership, and until we fix that, we will continue to depend on others instead of harnessing our vast resources.”
Ndume’s demand comes amid growing concerns about the influence of international organizations in Nigeria’s security landscape. His call for a probe is likely to put pressure on both the Nigerian government and security agencies to scrutinize foreign humanitarian operations more closely.
With terrorism still posing a severe threat to national stability, Ndume insists that uncovering the truth behind these allegations is crucial to Nigeria’s fight against insurgency.
> “We have been wondering for years where these terrorists are getting their funding. This claim must not be ignored,” he concluded.
As the Nigerian government considers its next steps, the question remains: Will this investigation expose a hidden network of terror financing, or will it remain another unverified claim lost in bureaucratic inaction?
PIONEER NEWS 