Senate Summons NSA, Intelligence Chiefs Over Alleged USAID Funding Of Boko Haram

The Nigerian Senate has summoned the National Security Adviser (NSA), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) to address allegations that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been funding Boko Haram.

The decision follows a motion by Senator Ali Ndume, who raised concerns over a viral video featuring U.S. Congressman Scott Perry, a Republican from Pennsylvania. In the video, Perry alleged during a congressional hearing that USAID had financially supported terrorist activities worldwide, including in Nigeria.

Ndume pointed out that the claim came shortly after Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, warned that terrorist groups in Nigeria were receiving funding and training from international organizations.

The allegations surfaced days after Perry accused USAID of supporting extremist groups, including ISIS, al-Qaeda, and Boko Haram. He claimed that a portion of USAID’s million annual budget had been used to fund training camps and madrasas (Islamic schools) linked to terrorism.

Perry, a key ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, made the claims during a session of an advisory body reviewing U.S. government spending. Trump, who has previously faced criticism for attempting to undermine institutions like USAID, had in January ordered a 90-day suspension of all foreign aid to assess whether it aligned with U.S. interests.

The Senate’s investigation aims to uncover the veracity of these allegations and assess potential threats posed by foreign funding of terrorism in Nigeria.