The Senate Wednesday summoned the National Security Adviser , Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Director – Generals of the Department of State Services (DSS) , National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) , to appear before it behind closed doors for explanations on allegations leveled against United States Agency for International Development ( USAID ) on sponsorship of Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.
A United States Congressman, Scott Perry had a few days ago , alleged that USAID , had been sponsoring activities of Boko Haram in Nigeria.
Though perry’s allegation is already being investigated by the US congress but the Nigerian Senate , also resolved to do similar thing during plenary on Wednesday.
Senate ‘s attention to the weighty allegation , was drawn by a motion moved by Senator Ali Ndume ( Borno South) and co – sponsored by five other Senators namely Kaka Shehu (Borno Central), Tahir Monguno (Borno North), Ibrahim Bomai (Yobe South) , Ahmad Lawan(Yobe North), Musa Mustapha (Yobe East), Anthony Siyako Yaro (Gome South), Olugbenga Daniel (Ogun East) and Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central).
Senator Ndume in the motion entitled: “Urgent Need to Investigate the Alleged Funding of Boko Haram by the United States Agency for International Development ( USAID)”, reminded the Senate that on Thursday, 13th February, 2025, the entire social media space was awash with a trending video of a United States Republican Congressman Scott Perry, representing Pennsylvania, alleging at the inaugural hearing of the Sub-Committee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, that USAID has been funding terrorist organisations, across the world (Boko Haram inclusive).
The allegation according to him, is coming up at the heels of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, raising an alarm that Boko Haram terrorist groups are being sponsored and trained by international organisations.
“Over the years, the modus operandi of Boko Haram in Nigeria has been a source of grave concern, as their source of funding and operations have been shrouded in mystery just as the devastation caused by Boko Haram in the North-East region and other parts of the country, which include the bombing of the UN building in the month of August, 2011, among other attacks, led to loss of lives of Nigerians in thousands and wanton destructions of properties, which occasioned unprecedented internal displacements, across the country.
“The monumental devastation caused by Boko Haram in this country, should be a matter of national concern, as it has dented the image of this country among comity of nations and for allegations to begin to emerge at this point in time that some international organisations are behind this unwholesome act, there is the urgent need for steps to be taken by the Federal Government to unravel the mystery behind this whole episode”, he said .
Senator Tahir Monguno who seconded the motion , supported the call for thorough investigation of the allegation by the Senate but another co – sponsor of the motion , Senator Abdul Ningi , advised that Intelligence Chiefs from the National Security Adviser ( NSA) , Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to the head of Defence Intelligence Agency ( DIA) , Major – General Emmanuel Undiandeye , should be invited to meet the Senate behind closed doors for required explanations.
The Senate accordingly after secondment of Senator Ningi’s amended prayer by Senator Ndume, summoned the NSA, the Director – General of Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Oluwatoyin Ajayi, his counterparts, at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Mohammed Mohammmed and the head of Defence Intelligence Agency ( DIA) on a date to be communicated to them.
