Outrage As Nigerians Demand Probe Of Alleged Funding Of Boko Haram By USAID

Nigerians have expressed outrage over revelations made by a US congressman, Scott Perry, accusing the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) of allegedly funding terrorist organizations, including Boko Haram, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and others. Perry made the disclosure at a hearing held by the Sub-committee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, during a session titled “The War on Waste: Stamping Out the Scourge of Improper Payments and Fraud.”

Perry claimed that USAID had provided funds, amounting to $697 million annually, which allegedly ended up financing terrorism. Specifically, he pointed to instances where aid meant for humanitarian and developmental purposes in Pakistan was instead allegedly channeled to terrorist groups, including Boko Haram.

This revelation has sparked a wave of anger in Nigeria, with many citizens and political analysts calling for an investigation. Dr. Austin Maho, an international affairs analyst, emphasized that while the claim was indeed shocking, there had long been suspicions regarding covert activities aimed at destabilizing countries like Nigeria. He stated, however, that a single congressman’s statement was insufficient to draw conclusions and urged for a comprehensive probe into the matter.

Professor Yusuf Zoaka, an academic from the University of Abuja, also weighed in, calling the allegation serious and controversial. He acknowledged USAID’s core mission of providing humanitarian aid and fostering peace and stability. According to Zoaka, the agency’s focus is on combating extremism, not supporting it. He urged caution until substantial evidence could be presented to back up the claims.

There is also growing concern due to prior statements by the Nigerian military that some terrorists were found in possession of US Dollars, leading to speculation about the potential involvement of foreign funds in the support of terrorist activities. However, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not provided a statement on the issue as of the time of reporting.

At present, the United States Embassy in Abuja had yet to respond to inquiries regarding the allegations. As the controversy continues to unfold, many are calling for a thorough investigation to determine the veracity of these serious accusations.