The Chief of Defence Standards and Evaluations at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Major General Adekunle Ariyibi, has stated that Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) are receiving foreign financial support, which has prolonged the war against terrorism in Nigeria.
Speaking on a Channels Television program, on Monday, General Ariyibi emphasized that such terrorist operations could not have been sustained for over 15 years without external backing.
“There’s no doubt about it that this sort of operation cannot be sustainable for the past 15 years without some sort of external collaboration and assistance,” he said.
He explained that since their allegiance to ISIS, Boko Haram and ISWAP have gained access to international funding, enabling them to procure advanced weaponry, including drones.
The issue of foreign sponsorship of terrorism has sparked renewed debate following claims by US Congressman Scott Perry that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) had provided funds to terrorist organizations, including Boko Haram.
Although the US government has not confirmed these allegations, Perry’s remarks have raised concerns in Nigeria.
Reacting to this, Senator Ali Ndume has urged the Nigerian government to launch an investigation into the claims.
“You can’t say it’s just an allegation; it’s more than that,” said Ndume, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, during an appearance on Sunday Politics. “That’s why the Nigerian government and the National Assembly, especially, need to look into it to investigate and verify the veracity of such a very weighty allegation.”
The Nigerian government has previously identified individuals and Bureau de Change (BDC) operators allegedly involved in terrorism financing. Additionally, authorities in the United Arab Emirates and the United States have imposed sanctions and frozen assets of individuals linked to terrorism funding.
As concerns over external sponsorship of terrorism grow, security experts argue that addressing these financial networks is crucial to weakening insurgent groups and restoring lasting peace in Nigeria.
