Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) has expressed concern over the recent allegations by a US congressman, Scott Perry, that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been funding terrorist organisations, including Boko Haram.
MPAC’s executive chairman, Disu Kamor, stated that these allegations were extremely disturbing, considering Boko Haram’s horrific track record of killing thousands of innocent Nigerians, mostly Muslims in the north, over the last 20 years.
According to the group, the allegation extends to the sponsoring of the kidnapping of the Chibok Girls, one of the most heinous crimes committed by Boko Haram.
“The thought that a foreign agency may have played a role in the abduction of these innocent girls is unbearable and warrants immediate attention.
“These allegations also bring to light the gross injustice perpetrated against Nigerians who have been wrongfully accused of using Boko Haram to try and Islamize Nigeria.
“For years, Muslims in Nigeria have been subjected to unfair scrutiny and suspicion, with many being branded as sympathisers or supporters of the terrorist group.
“However, it now appears that a foreign government has been secretly funding and coordinating Boko Haram’s activities, exposing the blatant hypocrisy and double standards of those who have been quick to blame Nigerian Muslims for the group’s atrocities,” the group said.
It urged the Nigerian National Assembly to immediately launch a thorough investigation into these allegations, adding that it was imperative that “Our lawmakers take these claims seriously and probe the matter to its fullest extent.
“The Nigerian people deserve to know the truth about any potential involvement of foreign agencies in sponsoring terrorism on our soil.
“The allegations made by Congressman Perry are not only a slap in the face to the victims of Boko Haram’s atrocities, but also a betrayal of the trust that Nigeria has placed in the United States as a partner in the fight against terrorism.
“We demand that our government takes immediate action to get to the bottom of this matter and ensures that those responsible are held accountable.”
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