Ndume to FG: Probe claims of USAID funding of Boko Haram

Federal lawmaker representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume, has urged the Nigerian government to probe serious allegations made by US Congressman Scott.

Perry, had claimed that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) indirectly funded terrorist groups, including Boko Haram.

In an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Ndume emphasized that the claim should not be dismissed as mere allegation.

He urged the Nigerian government, particularly the National Assembly, to take the matter seriously and conduct a thorough investigation to verify the authenticity of the accusations.

The senator expressed concern that foreign humanitarian organizations operating in Nigeria’s insurgency-prone North-East could be unintentionally aiding terrorist groups.

He pointed out that Boko Haram has wreaked havoc not only in the North-East but across Nigeria, citing past attacks such as the bombings of the police headquarters and the UN office in Abuja.

Ndume recalled previous warnings from security agencies and the Borno State government regarding the operations of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the region.

He mentioned that at one point, Nigerian security forces raided a USAID office in Maiduguri based on intelligence reports, and that other NGOs had been investigated for providing training that could potentially aid terrorists.

Additionally, Ndume voiced his frustration with Nigeria’s ongoing reliance on foreign aid, particularly given the scale of the humanitarian crisis in the North-East, where millions have been displaced, and tens of thousands have lost their lives.

He stressed that Nigeria, with its resources, should be in a position to provide aid to other countries, rather than depending on external assistance.

He argued that the country’s leadership must improve to enable the nation to harness its potential and achieve self-sufficiency.