Senator Ali Ndume has urged the Nigerian government to investigate US Congressman Scott Perry’s claim that USAID inadvertently funded terrorist groups like Boko Haram. Ndume stressed the significance of the allegation and questioned the role of foreign NGOs in Nigeria's insurgency-stricken northeast. He also advocated for Nigeria to provide aid rather than rely on it.
Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South in Nigeria’s National Assembly, has called for a government investigation into a claim made by US Congressman Scott Perry, alleging that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) inadvertently funded terrorist organizations, including Boko Haram.
In an interview on Channels Television's Sunday Politics programme, Ndume emphasized that the claim cannot be dismissed as mere speculation. He urged the Nigerian government and the National Assembly to investigate the allegations, which he described as “weighty.” The senator, with over two decades of experience in the legislature, expressed deep concern over the potential link between foreign aid and terrorism, particularly in Nigeria’s northeast, where Boko Haram has caused devastation for nearly two decades.
Ndume referred to past suspicions and security concerns regarding the operations of foreign humanitarian agencies in the region. He pointed to prior intelligence reports that raised questions about the activities of some NGOs. Specifically, he recalled incidents during the tenure of Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, when the Nigerian Army had raided USAID and UN offices in Maiduguri following suspicions of links to terrorist organizations.
This revelation is particularly troubling as Boko Haram has not only terrorized the northeast but also staged deadly attacks in other parts of Nigeria, including the bombing of the police headquarters and the UN office in Abuja.
As the investigation call gains momentum, Ndume underscored the importance of Nigeria rethinking its reliance on foreign aid, arguing that the country, given its resources, should be in a position to offer aid to others instead.
