US Congressman accuses American congress.
US Ambassador to Nigeria denies allegations.
Nigeria Legislators institute investigations
No evidence USAID funds Boko Haram — US Ambassador
Accusations, denials, death, destruction, displaced people, abductions. A jumble in the jungle
For weeks now, it has been trending both in the mainstream and soft media that allegations have surfaced from sources as powerful as the US Congress that the American government under the leadership of the Demcratic party have been funding terrorism all over the globe. This is with particular reference to the Boko Haram terrorist of Nigeria.
Ex President Goodluck Nigeria had come out to the open press to tell the world of the open antagonism of the Obama administration toward Nigeria. How the US had strongly refused to sell arms to Nigeria to combat this scourge and has gone out of their ways to frustrate all the attempts they have made to purchase from other likely selling countries. The South African scandal in which the private airplane of a reknowed pastor in Nigeria was empounded in there on the accusation that it was being used for arms smuggling comes readily to mind.
That the Nigerian chief security officer, the Chief of Army staff General Ribadu had come out recently in an open inerview declared that there is likely foreign involvement in the sources of fund for these insurgences, as there fund seem to be enermous and the source shrouded in mystery. He however, strongly pointed a finger at foreign agencies who come under humanitarian guises. They come at night and disappear befor morning. Their trucks will break down in suspicious areas and before one could turn around, all the contents have disappeared. The driver comes out the next day and simply drives away the supposed broken down truck. And many other observations that directed suspicions towards these foreign organisations. He walked shy of mentioning USAID or any other from other countries. He just stated that intelligence has revealed that the airplanes that come at night, their pilots and passengers are white folks. He revealed that some of these organisations operating in the hotspots of Nigeria have decidedly ignored the government officials and security personnel.
In a video circulation also in recent times in the social media is that of a helicopter that delivered some materials to some Nigerians in a gungle scenario. The occupants of the airplane are white. Noticable is that the entire activity is clansdestine and and carried out in haste.
Then, boom, out of the blues, an American congressman, Scott Perry, in no other than the congress floor confirm all the allegations by announcing that it is USAID that has been sponsoring all this mehem in Nigeria.
The US diplomatic corps in Nigeria have been hard put since this inferno was ignited to curtail it, as their ambassador Nigeria denies any American involment in the terrorist actvities in Nigeria.
Details
The United States of America, USA, Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, has said that there was no evidence that the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, was funding Boko Haram or any terrorist group in Nigeria.
But a member of the House of Representatives, Inuwa Garba has disagreed, saying that the ambassador had no right to say if the allegations were true or wrong.
This came as the House of Representatives, yesterday, constituted an A-hoc Committee to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations made by Congressman Scott Perry on USAID sponsoring Boko Haram in Nigeria.
Speaking to journalists late Wednesday night in Abuja after meeting with the 36 state governors under the aegis of Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, Ambassador Mills, said that no nation condemns Boko Haram’s violence more strongly than the US.
Recall that on February 13, Congressman Scott Perry accused USAID of funding terrorist groups, including Boko Haram.
Boko Haram is a terrorist group founded in 2002 by Mohammed Yusuf. The group’s objectives include promoting Sunni Islam and eliminating Shia Islam in Nigeria.
Over the years, thousands of Nigerians have lost their lives, billions of Naira worth of property destroyed, and many families displaced due to Boko Haram activities.
Perry, a Republican from Pennsylvania, made the allegation during the first hearing of the Sub-committee on Delivering on Government Efficiency.
Perry had said: “Who gets some of that money? Does that name ring a bell to anybody in the room? Because your money, your money, $697 million annually, plus the shipments of cash funds in Madrasas, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, ISIS Khorasan, terrorist training camps. That’s what it’s funding.”
Recall that the Senate on Wednesday summoned the National Security Adviser, NSA , Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Director General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Adeola Ajayi, Director General of National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed and the Director of Defense Intelligence Agency, DIA, Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye to appear before it behind closed doors.
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The Senate raised concerns over the escalating insecurity in the country and the alarming allegations that certain international agencies may have been financing the Boko Haram insurgency.
While responding to a question, the US Ambassador who noted that the US has strict policies to prevent USAID or any other US assistance from being diverted to terrorist groups like Boko Haram, said: “Let me be clear, there’s no friend of Nigeria that has been stronger in its condemnation of the violence of Boko Haram and Boko Haram contempt for human life than the United States. We have designated Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organisation since 2013, blocking the group from transferring assets to the US and allowing us to arrest and seize its members.
“We cooperate in investigations with the Nigerian government. I can assure you that we have strict policies and procedures to ensure that USAID funding or any other US assistance, whether from USAID, the Department of Defence, or the State Department, is not diverted to terrorist groups like Boko Haram.
“There is absolutely no evidence of such diversion, and if we ever had evidence that any programme funding was being misused by Boko Haram, we would immediately investigate it with our Nigerian partners.
“So, when it comes to Boko Haram, the United States stands with Nigeria in wanting to rid this country of the scourge that this organisation represents.”
On other issues discussed with the 36 state governors, the US Ambassador who disclosed that he outlined the embassy’s vision for the future of the US-Nigerian relationship, said: “I explained to them that we are going to focus on four key priorities in the coming years. The first is improving the business environment to increase trade and investment between the United States and Nigeria.
“Second, a renewed focus on improving transparency and accountability in Nigeria, fighting corruption, and empowering Nigerian voices advocating for more transparency.
“Third, we want to be more engaged at the subnational level, at the state level, and with local governing authorities. I believe the embassy needs to engage more in this area as we develop our programmes and assistance.
“Lastly, we discussed our health care programmes, which are a large part of US assistance to Nigeria. As these programmes succeed such as reducing HIV cases and eradicating polio, we want to ensure their sustainability and transition them to the Nigerian government at the federal and state levels.”
According to Mills, the aim is to ensure the sustainability of these health programmes and transfer them to the Nigerian government for effective management, helping to create a stronger healthcare future.
On the issue of cut in assistance, the US Ambassador who noted that the government has not stopped foreign assistance to their partners and friends such as Nigeria, said that no assistance has been cut yet as no decision has been made about the future of their assistance.
He clarified that President Donald Trump’s administration did not cut assistance, but implemented a 90-day pause to develop ways to make it more effective.
Milla said: “Well, first, let me, let me clarify one thing. Right now, the new administration has put in a 90 day pause on our assistance. No assistance has been cut yet, no decision has been made about the future of our assistance.
“In fact, Secretary Marco Rubio has said this is not about ending foreign assistance to our partners and friends like Nigeria. It’s about how to make the assistance more effective and how to make sure that it aligns with US government policies and interests. So, that’s what this 90 day pause is for, and our assistance.
“But I think many of you have seen I hope that there are waivers, waivers for our assistance that’s life saving, that provides humanitarian life saving assistance, whether that’s to HIV patients or to mother and child nutrition needs or to internally displaced people. So, that continues, where we’ll be in 90 days, we will know.”
Lawmaker says US ambassador’s claim was wrong
House of Representatives member, Garba who was reacting to Ambassador Mills position on USAID funding Boko Haram in Nigeria, said that the claim was false, adding that the ambassador had no right to say if the allegations were true or false.
“Very wrong. He’s not in a position to say whether it is wrong or right, because the same US government has set up a committee on President Trump’s order. They even sanctioned some part of the activities of USAID. Is he telling us that Donald Trump doesn’t know what is happening? Is he telling us that Donald Trump doesn’t know what he’s doing?
“Is he telling us that Donald Trump is not qualified to be the president of the United States of America? What he is saying, I think, it is damaging on his government, his country and his president. We belong to Nigeria. We own this country. We are duty bound to stand firm to defend our country. He should not speak for us. We are to speak for ourselves.”
Reps investigate allegations
The House also requested the Federal Government to engage with the U.S. Government through the House Committee on Foreign Affairs to obtain a formal clarification on the matter.
The 15 member commitee headed byMr. Victor Obuzor (PDP-Rivers) was also mandated to investigate the activities of non-government organisations, NGOs, in Nigeria, their real identities, sources of funding, and on what they expend their money on.
The resolutions followed the adoption on a motion entitled “The need to investigate the allegation by U.S congressman, Scott Perry that USAID has allegedly funded Boko Haram and other international terrorist organisations” moved by Inuwa Garba during plenary in Abuja.
Moving the motion, Inuwa noted with concern the recent statement made by a U.S. Congressman, Scott Perry, alleging that USAD has been involved in the sponsorship of Boko Haram and other terrorist activities in countries where the different groups operated.
According to him, Scott Perry made this claim during the inaugural hearing of the Sub-Committee on Delivering on Government Efficiency where he claimed that “$697million (were spent) annually plus shipments of cash funds in Madrasas, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram,” etc.
He said: “Believing Boko Haram’s dominant presence in Northern Nigeria, it is safe to assume that it (Boko Haram) had significantly benefitted from this funding as alleged by Scott Perry.
“The allegation, if true, raises serious national and international security concerns and questions about external influences on Nigeria’s fight against insecurity, which has led to significant loss of lives, destruction of property, and displacement of over one million citizens over the years.
“Nigeria has been battling insurgency and terrorism for over a decade, with the government committing enormous resources to counterterrorism operations while also seeking international cooperation to curb the menace.
“Such an allegation, if not thoroughly investigated, could undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty, compromise national security efforts, and diminish public confidence in the fight against terrorism.”
He expressed worries that failure to unearth the truth behind the weighty claim could embolden criminal and terrorist elements, further exacerbating the insecurity challenges confronting the country.
The House in it’s resolution also urged the media and the general public to remain vigilant and provide useful information that could assist security agencies in their efforts to combat terrorism.
The commitee is expected to report back to plenary in two weeks for further legislative action.
