The USAID terror funding allegation

FOLLOWING the United States Congressman Scott Perry’s recent claim that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) had for some time been indirectly funding terror groups, including Boko Haram, there has been consternation and anxiety among Nigerians. Scholars, the media and different segments of the Nigerian population have wondered how America, which readily flaunts its democratic credentials and status as the world’s policeman, could be accused of funding terrorism. The hallowed chambers of the American congress where the allegation emanated from has given it traction, and Nigerians are particularly worried because since its establishment, the dreaded terrorist group is reported to have killed over 50,000 people and displaced millions in the North-East region of Nigeria.

In pursuit of the truth, the Senate recently invited the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu; the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mr Mohammed Mohammed; and the Director General of Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Adeola Ajayi, to provide clarifications. The Red Chamber’s action followed a motion of urgent national importance by Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno-South) wherein he urged the Senate to investigate the allegation. Ndume said: “We need to be briefed by security agencies first in a closed-door session. Let’s take only one prayer – we invite NSA, the DG, NIA, DSS for a closed-door session with the Senate on this matter. The reason? This is their duty; that is what they are funded to do. With the briefing by the security chiefs, we can take it up from there.” Ndume based his motion on the devastation that Boko Haram had caused over the years.

Days after Senator Perry’s allegation, the US government said it was going to conduct an investigation into the claim. However, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, categorically denied the allegations. Speaking at a meeting with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) in Abuja, Mills 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’s contempt for human life than the United States… I can assure you, we have policies and procedures in place to ensure that USAID funding, or any of our assistance funding, whether it comes from USAID, the Department of Defense, or the State Department, is not diverted to a terrorist group like Boko Haram. There is absolutely no evidence that that (diversion of funding to a terrorist organisation) has occurred. And certainly, if we ever had evidence presented to us that a programme funding was being diverted to Boko Haram, we would immediately investigate along with our Nigerian partners. And so I just want to be clear that when it comes to Boko Haram, the United States stands with Nigeria in wanting to rid this country of the scourge that that organization represents.”

Truth be told, the allegation is very disturbing and attempts must be made to unravel the truth. Though the man at the centre of the controversy has been tar-brushed by some as a person who often goes on a junket of incoherent allegations, this still does not annul the need to find out the absolute truth behind the current case. Over the years, stakeholders have been stupefied by the huge and obvious foreign support that had kept terrorist groups operating in Nigeria afloat in their business of bloodletting. Among many others, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has expressed concern about the funding of terrorism in the country and the brains behind it.

We take the allegation seriously because it was a member of the US Government, namely the Senate, who made it. There is no doubting the fact that terrorism in Nigeria benefits from international support. The invitation to the security chiefs and the expected investigation can provide some clarity. Indeed, a comprehensive investigation into how terrorist groups have gained so much ground in Nigeria is long overdue. Allegations of connivance between them and top security personnel and the infiltration of Nigerian soldiers’ ranks by saboteurs have been rife. Apart from investigating the alleged US funding of the terror groups, there is also the need to examine other strings holding the murderous groups together over the years. Many have alleged that the business of terror, both on the side of the military and the terrorists, is so lucrative that no one wants to give up the trade. The Defence budget, apparently escalated by the war on terror, is humongous, and it is alleged that certain criminals do not want the counter-terrorism fight to end soon. This is why, while investigating Perry’s allegation, there is also an opportunity for the National Assembly to unravel the activities of suspected local collaborators of the terror groups, whether in military or civilian garb.

The intelligence agencies must be up and doing. They must plug the loopholes that the terror groups have been exploiting to murder Nigerians and escalate the defence spending. In the process of investigation, the intelligence agencies have to grill the so-called foreign NGOs; allegations are rife that they have promoted terrorism in Nigeria while masquerading as relief agencies. While the US Ambassador has said that there is no evidence of the US funding Boko Haram, the issues at stake are clearly beyond his remit. It is common knowledge that in many instances, the United States government has been credibly accused of engaging in anomalous actions while protecting what it considered to be America’s national interest. Nigeria must do all it can to defend its own national interests too. It must stop the murderous onslaughts by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups on innocent citizens.