The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, has firmly rejected accusations that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is funding Boko Haram or any other terrorist group. In a meeting with members of the Nigeria Governors Forum in Abuja on Wednesday evening, Mills stated that no credible evidence exists to support such claims.
He emphasized that the United States stands as one of the strongest critics of Boko Haram’s violence and its disregard for human life. Mills reassured Nigerian leaders that if there were any evidence of USAID funds being misappropriated for terrorist activities, the U.S. government would immediately collaborate with Nigeria’s authorities to investigate the matter.
“There is absolutely no evidence of such diversion,” Mills declared. “If we had any indication that our programs were being misused by Boko Haram, we would act swiftly and in close cooperation with our Nigerian partners to investigate and address the issue.”
Mills underscored that the U.S. government has strict policies and procedures in place to prevent the misuse of funding, whether it comes from USAID, the Department of Defense, or the State Department. He made it clear that the U.S. is fully committed to supporting Nigeria in its efforts to rid the country of Boko Haram and other extremist threats.
He also noted that the U.S. has designated Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organization since 2013, which has allowed the U.S. to block the group’s financial assets and take action against its members.
The U.S. ambassador’s statement comes in response to claims made by U.S. Congressman Scott Perry. During a hearing on February 13, Perry accused USAID of indirectly funding terrorist groups, including Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda, and ISIS. The Republican representative from Pennsylvania alleged that USAID’s annual budget of $697 million, which includes cash payments to Islamic schools (madrasas), might have been misused to finance extremist activities, including terrorist training camps.
In reaction to the allegations, the Nigerian Senate took action by summoning key security officials, including National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, National Intelligence Agency Director-General Mohammed Mohammed, and Department of State Services Director-General Oluwatosin Ajayi, to address the claims. The Senate plans to hold a closed-door session to investigate the validity of these allegations.
Senator Ali Ndume, who sponsored the motion for the Senate to summon the security heads, expressed concern over the ongoing threat posed by Boko Haram despite substantial government investments in counter-terrorism operations. Ndume called for clarity on the allegations of USAID funding terrorism, stressing the need for a thorough investigation to uncover the truth.
Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central also voiced his support for the motion, highlighting the necessity of addressing the allegations in a transparent manner to ensure the integrity of Nigeria’s security efforts.
The Senate’s decision to hold a closed-door session reflects the seriousness with which the allegations are being treated, and it remains to be seen what conclusions will be drawn from the inquiry.
