USAID Boko Haram Sponsorship: US Orders Investigation of Past Donations to Nigeria

By Dansu Peter  The United States government has launched an investigation into past financial aid allocations to Nigeria, following allegat...

By Dansu Peter 

The United States government has launched an investigation into past financial aid allocations to Nigeria, following allegations that funds meant for humanitarian and developmental purposes may have inadvertently supported terrorist activities, including Boko Haram.

This decision comes in the wake of President Donald Trump’s January 20, 2025, directive to suspend all foreign aid for 90 days. The president cited concerns over global destabilisation and the potential misuse of American financial assistance, prompting an urgent review of funds disbursed through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The investigation gained traction after Republican Representative Scott Perry of Pennsylvania raised alarm over the possibility that U.S. aid was being diverted to terrorist groups. Speaking at the inaugural hearing of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency last Thursday, Perry alleged that a significant portion of U.S. financial support—amounting to $697 million annually—might be funding extremist groups.

“Who gets some of that money? Does that name ring a bell to anybody in the room? Because your money, your money, $697 million annually, plus the shipments of cash funds in Madrasas, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, ISIS Khorasan, terrorist training camps. That’s what it’s funding,” Perry stated.

Boko Haram, formally known as Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād, has been responsible for over 15 years of terror in northeastern Nigeria, leading to tens of thousands of deaths through relentless attacks on security forces, civilians, and government institutions.

In response to these concerns, the U.S. Mission to Nigeria issued a statement via X on Tuesday, reassuring the public that stringent monitoring mechanisms are in place to track the use of past assistance.

“Comprehensive monitoring and evaluation systems are in place to help verify that U.S. assistance reaches intended recipients. The United States condemns the violence and blatant disregard for human life perpetrated by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in Nigeria and the region,” the statement read.

Furthermore, the U.S. Mission reiterated that the designation of Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) since November 14, 2013, continues to restrict its financial activities, block assets, and limit members’ ability to travel to the United States.

While the investigation unfolds, the United States has reaffirmed its commitment to working with Nigeria and regional allies to counter terrorism and ensure that American aid reaches those genuinely in need, without falling into the hands of extremist elements.