The allegations, made by U.S. Congressman Scott Perry, have sparked concerns within the Nigerian government.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The Senate has summoned top security officials, including National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu and Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, over allegations that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is funding Boko Haram.
The allegations, made by U.S. Congressman Scott Perry, have sparked concerns within the Nigerian government. Also invited are the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, and the Head of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye.
This follows a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Sen. Ali Ndume (Borno South) during Wednesday’s plenary.
Leading the debate, Ndume referenced a viral claim from Perry during a U.S. congressional hearing on February 13, 2025, alleging that USAID has supported terrorist organizations, including Boko Haram.
He highlighted that the accusation comes amid growing concerns from Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who recently warned that international groups may be backing Boko Haram’s operations.
Ndume stressed the need for the federal government to investigate the funding sources of terrorist groups, which have remained largely unknown despite years of counterterrorism efforts.
He urged the Senate to recommend the formation of an inter-ministerial committee, including the ministries of defense, interior, and foreign affairs, as well as heads of security agencies, to probe the claims. Additionally, he called for an ad hoc Senate committee to collaborate with security agencies to determine the truth behind the allegations and propose legislative actions.
Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) supported the motion but suggested that the matter required a closed-door session with security agencies before any further action.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio agreed, cautioning against relying on social media narratives. He emphasized the importance of hearing directly from Nigeria’s security agencies before drawing conclusions.
The Senate adopted the resolution but did not specify when the security chiefs would appear for the briefing.