UPDATED: Senate Summons NSA, NIA, DSS, Others Over Alleged USAID Link With Boko Haram

The Senate has summoned the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu and heads of all security agencies in Nigeria over alleged funding of Boko Haram by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Other security chiefs to appear before the Senate are the heads of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Department of State Services (DSS), Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

Also summoned are the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Chief of Air Staff (CoAS), and the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS).

They are being summoned as the Senate begins investigation into alleged funding of Boko Haram by USAID, as alleged by a US Republican Congressman, Scott Perry on February 13, 2025.

The invitation to the security chiefs followed a resolution reached during plenary on Wednesday, based on Order of Urgent National Importance, raised by the senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume.

The US Congressman Perry, had accused USAID of funding terrorist organisations, including Boko Haram, to the tune of $697 million annually.
Perry, who represents Pennsylvania, spoke during a hearing of a US sub-committee on delivering on government efficiency.

Ndume urged the Senate to consider the allegation as too weighty to gloss over, given the scale of devastation of the country caused by the activities of Boko Haram and other terrorist organisations.

The Borno senator said detailed investigation would shed light on how Boko Haram and other terrorist groups have continued to survive over the years, despite prolonged counterinsurgency actions by the Nigerian armed forces.

Ndume recalled how the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. Christopher Musa, raised the alarm in a recent viral video where he voiced his suspicion about Boko Haram being funded and trained by unnamed international organisations.

The senator noted that Boko Haram have killed over 50,000 people mainly in Northeastern part of Nigeria, displacing over 250,000 while over 400,000 victims have been forced to become refugees in neighbouring Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

If Ndume had had his way, the matter would have been thrown to debate at plenary. But Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central), cautioned that the matter was too sensitive to be discussed in an open debate. He suggested that rather, the Senate should first discuss the matter with heads of security and intelligence agencies in closed session.

Other senators who commented agreed with Ningi’s position. President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, added his voice, saying that security issues should not be discussed “in the market place.”

The Senate, however, did not give a specific date the security chiefs are expected to appear for discussions.