Major General Adekunle Ariyibi of Nigeria's Defence Headquarters reveals Boko Haram and ISWAP’s continued foreign funding. He links their operations, including advanced weaponry and drones, to external backing. Following claims by US Congressman Scott Perry, Nigerian lawmakers, including Senator Ali Ndume, demand an investigation into these allegations.
Major General Adekunle Ariyibi, the Chief of Defence Standards and Evaluations at the Defence Headquarters has claimed that Boko Haram and ISWAP receive significant foreign support, which contributes to their prolonged insurgency in Nigeria. During an interview on Channels Television, Ariyibi emphasized that these terrorist organization’s capacity to sustain their operations for over 15 years cannot be attributed solely to local sources of income. He specifically pointed to their advanced weaponry and the shift to drones capable of carrying weapons as evidence of international backing.
Ariyibi noted that the groups’ affiliation with ISIS has opened doors to foreign funding, which has enabled them to modernize their warfare tactics. He further highlighted the importance of this external aid in keeping their operations going despite the Nigerian military's efforts.
In response to these claims, Nigerian lawmakers, including Senator Ali Ndume, have called for an official probe into allegations made by U.S. Congressman Scott Perry. Perry recently suggested that U.S. humanitarian aid programs, including USAID, could have been linked to terrorist organizations like Boko Haram. Ndume urged the Nigerian government to thoroughly investigate these claims, acknowledging the potential gravity of the situation.
This revelation is part of a broader conversation on foreign terrorism financing, which has already led to sanctions on individuals and entities believed to support terrorism. The Nigerian government and international bodies have been increasing efforts to track and stop these funding sources.
