Senate summons NSA , DGs of DSS, NIA, DIA over USAID’S sponsorship of Boko Haram

The Senate has summoned the National Security Adviser, NSA , Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Director General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Adeola Ajayi; Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, and the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, DIA, Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye, over alleged sponsorship of Boko Haram by the United States Aid for International Development, USAID.

They are to appear before the lawmakers behind closed doors for an explanation of the allegation levelled against the US agency.

This is even as President Bola Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio met last night at the presidential villa to discuss the matter.

The Senate, however, raised serious concerns over the escalating insecurity in the country and the alarming allegations that certain international agencies might have been financing the Boko Haram insurgency in the country.

Allegation’s credibility

The meeting is also to assess the credibility of the allegations, discuss Nigeria’s broader security challenges and determine necessary policy responses.

However, no date has been fixed for the meeting with the heads of the nation’s intelligence agencies.
Recall that 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, the Senate also at yesterday’s plenary, resolved to do a similar thing.

Resolution of the Senate was sequel to a motion sponsored by Senator Ali Ndume and co- sponsored by eight other senators.

The Senate after debate on the motion, resolved to summon the NSA , the Director-General of DSS, his counterparts in NIA and DIA behind closed doors on a day to be communicated to them.

In his presentation of the motion, Senator Ndume highlighted the reports circulating in the media, following a hearing by the U.S. Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency.

At the hearing, U.S. Congressman, Scott Perry, alleged that USAID had been unintentionally channelling approximately $697 million annually to terrorist groups across the world.

The former Senate leader, who expressed concern over the mystery surrounding Boko Haram’s sources of fund and its sustained ability to wreak havoc across Nigeria, particularly in the northeastern region, said: “It is known that over the years, the modus operandi of Boko Haram in Nigeria has been a source of great concern.

‘’Their source of funding and operations have been shrouded in mystery. It is known that the devastation caused by Boko Haram in the northeast region and other parts of the country, which includes the bombing of UN building in August 2021, and, of course, the bombing of the police headquarters here in Abuja, among other attacks, led to loss of life of Nigerians in thousands and unwanted destruction on properties which occasioned and caused internal displacement across the country.

“The federal government over the years, strives to put measures in place to curtail the activities of terrorist groups in the country by expending huge resources which seem not to have yielded much result, as the various activities of terrorists continue.

“The monumental devastation caused by Boko Haram in this country should be a matter of concern as it has dented the image of this country.”

Ndume also noted that Perry’s claim came shortly after the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, raised alarm that terrorist groups in the country were receiving sponsorship and training from international organizations.

Calls for investigation and security briefing

After his presentation, other senators echoed the need for an in-depth probe into the alleged international financing of terrorism in Nigeria.

Past efforts

On his part, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, noted that previous intelligence efforts to trace terrorist funding sources had not yielded the desired results.

“The intelligence agencies in Nigeria have in the past made numerous attempts to investigate the funding of these terrorists and bandits through various ways, but did not yield the much desired results,’’ he said.
In his contribution, Senator Abdul Ningi, called for a high-level security briefing, emphasising that such sensitive matters should not be debated openly in the Senate.

Instead, he proposed a closed-door meeting with the National Security Adviser, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, the Director of the Department of State Services, DSS, and the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, DIA.

Ningi said: “We do not need a very robust, elaborate debate because the apex lawmaking body of the country, the Senate, needs to be briefed, first and foremost, by the head of various security agencies in a closed-door session.

“Beyond the media, beyond what I know, beyond what you know, we have intelligent organisations that are funded by this government. I strongly feel that we need to carry just one prayer, that we invite the National Security Advisor, NIA and the director of DSS, for a closed-door session with the Senate on this particular matter because that is their prerogative, that is their field.

“They have been funded to protect and ensure that the intelligence system functions well, protect this country against all odds. I’m sure this motion arose because of the inability of the government to make any pronouncement on this particular matter.”

Akpabio warns against unverified claims

In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who called for caution, warned against relying on unverified claims, especially those circulating on social media.

He pointed out that false narratives and misinformation often gain traction online, making it crucial for the Senate to hear directly from security agencies before drawing conclusions.

Akpabio said: “You know, social media is garbage in, garbage out. Everybody can say anything on the social media. Many of us have experienced social media attacks as well.

“Sometimes, 99% of what is in the social media is inaccurate, sometimes, total speculation, and sometimes based on mischief. So, there is no way we can shift the mindset behind the bar.

“We must hear from our own security agents and intelligence agencies. I also believe we should also look at the Defense Intelligence Agency, DIA.

‘’They will have information on past arrests and questionings and all that to brief us and security is not something we discuss in the market, it is something that should be discussed in closed session.’’

Trump’s move

At this point, Senator Ndume countered Akpabio’s remarks, asserting that the claims were not merely social media rumours, but were actively being investigated by the U.S. Congress.

He added that Parliament Reports recalled that in January, Us President, Donald Trump, also suspended all foreign aid for 90 days, explaining that the pause was to determine whether the use of those funds aligned with America’s interests.

Recall that the United States Mission in Nigeria Tuesday announced plans an investigation into how past aid allocation to Nigeria and other countries were utilised.

In a post on its verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, the Mission confirmed that that monitoring systems were in place to track past assistance provided by the US government.

‘’Comprehensive monitoring and evaluation systems are in place to help very that US assistance reaches intended recipients,’’ the Mission had stated.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu met last night with the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio over the matter, at the president’s official residence at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Although the agenda of the meeting was not made public at press time, it came hours after the Senate summoned intelligence chiefs to investigate allegations made by United States congressman, Scott Perry, that the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, had been funding terrorist organisations, including Boko Haram.

Akpabio had earlier at plenary on ther floor of the Senate yesterday, said the federal government won’t allow USAID to continue operating in Nigeria, if found guilty of sponsoring terrorism.