Ndume, BOCCIMA Seek Probe Of USAID Over Alleged Terrorism Sponsorship

Lawmaker representing Southern Borno Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Ali Ndume has described the allegation by a United States congressman, Scott Perry that USAID is funding terrorist organisations including Boko Haram terrorists as weighty allegation that should be investigated by the National Assembly and the Nigerian government.

LEADERSHIP reports that Perry, who represents Pennsylvania had at the inauguration hearing of the sub-committee on Delivering on Government Efficiency during the congress accused the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), of funding terrorist organisations like Boko Haram.

Perry during the session titled: “The War on Waste: Stamping Out the Scourge of Improper Payments and Fraud,” further accused USAID of providing $136 million for building 120 schools in Pakistan.

Exclusively speaking to LEADERSHIP on Sunday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, the Senator said, “As a matter of urgency, investigation should be carried out over the allegation since it is coming from a United State Congressman. It should not be left to the National Assembly alone”.

In a similar vein, the President of the Borno State Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (BOCCIMA), Alhaji Ahmed Ashemi, said most of the international donor agencies and nongovernmental organisations that run to conflict zones are not doing it for humanitarian reasons.

Ashemi accused them of nursing other ulterior motives and certain interest which they sponsored. “We have always suspected that there are a lot of assistance the terrorists are getting from them.

“So, this revelation by the US Congressman only confirmed our suspicion about the motives of some of the international donors. What they gain if they put us to perpetual conflict is something for real analysis by diplomatic and world leaders,” Ashemi said.

Also speaking and condemning the continued Boko Haram occupation of their community, Chairman of Kirawa Community Development, Yakubu Ali Kirawa, lamented that his people have suffered so much in the hands of the Boko Haram terrorists.

He added that his people lived in internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps for over 11 years before they were resettled back to their community in Kirawa area of Gwoza local government area, adding that the terrorists had continued to wreak havoc, especially with attack on farmers and looting of food items.

He condemned any act of sponsorship of the terrorists as alleged by the US congressman and called on both federal and State governments to look into the allegation to know those behind the suffering of the people of Borno, North-East and Nigeria at large by the terrorists.

Ibrahim Kulkawa, a native of Gava ‘ Bayan Dutse ‘ area which is in the Mandara Mountain of Gwoza local government area, said since 2014 that they were displaced by the Boko Haram terrorists, they are still living in IDPs camp in Maiduguri.

He added that no assistance in the form of aid is coming to them and that the terrorists are still occupying their community.

He urged government to investigate Perry’s allegation, noting that the nature of equipment and brand new vehicles, including ammunition the terrorists are using during attacks are enough reasons to prove that they are heavily sponsored.