Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has raised serious concerns about the sources of funding for the terrorist group Boko Haram, following allegations made by US Congressman Scott Perry.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Ndume called for an urgent investigation into claims that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) may have indirectly funded Boko Haram and other terrorist organizations.
The allegations came to light during a hearing of the US Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency last Thursday.
The session, titled “The War on Waste: Stamping Out the Scourge of Improper Payments and Fraud,” focused on the misuse of taxpayer funds. During the hearing, Perry claimed that $697 million in US aid was funneled to terrorist groups, including Boko Haram, ISIS, and Al-Qaeda.
He also questioned USAID’s $136 million project to build 120 schools in Pakistan, noting there was no evidence the schools were ever constructed.
Ndume, who has long been vocal about the impact of Boko Haram in Nigeria, described the allegations as deeply troubling.
“You can’t say it’s just an allegation; it’s more than that. That’s why the Nigerian government and the National Assembly, especially, need to look into it to investigate and verify the veracity of such a very weighty allegation,” he said.
The senator expressed frustration over the lack of clarity on how Boko Haram has sustained its operations over the years.
“We have been wondering for all these years where these Boko Haram people are getting money,” Ndume noted. He pointed out that Boko Haram’s activities have caused immense suffering, particularly in the North-East, where the group has carried out deadly attacks, including the bombing of the police headquarters and the UN office in Abuja.
Ndume also recalled past suspicions about the role of international organizations in the region. He mentioned intelligence-led raids on USAID and UN offices in Maiduguri during the tenure of Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, as well as a raid on an NGO suspected of training staff in firearm use.
“Even the Borno State government was wary of the operations of the NGOs,” he said, suggesting that some organizations may have been complicit in fueling the insurgency.
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