United States Congressman Scott Perry has alleged that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been funding terrorist organizations, including Boko Haram, to the tune of $697 million annually.
These allegations surfaced in the first week of February 2025, rapidly spreading across social media and online forums, reigniting debates over the transparency of foreign aid programs.
During a recent hearing of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, Perry, a Republican representing Pennsylvania, alleged that USAID funds were being misappropriated and redirected to terrorist organizations instead of legitimate development projects.
He specifically cited instances where:
$136 million was allocated to build 120 schools in Pakistan, yet there was allegedly “zero evidence”that these schools were ever constructed.
Also, $60 million was assigned annually for the Women’s Scholarship Endowment, but he suggested that these funds might be supporting terrorism rather than women’s empowerment.
Another $5 million was earmarked annually for the Young Women Lead program, which he also questioned in terms of transparency and effectiveness.
Although Perry’s claims have gained traction, no direct evidence has been presented linking USAID funds to Boko Haram.
Putting it to perspective, this not the first time international aid organizations have faced accusations of indirectly aiding terrorist groups.
On September 19, 2019, Nigerian military spokesman Colonel Ado Isa accused the humanitarian group Action Against Hunger of “aiding and abetting” Boko Haram by allegedly providing food and medical supplies to the insurgents.
This led to the closure of the organization’s offices in Maiduguri and Damaturu before it strongly refuted the allegations.
Additionally, on March 25, 2022, the United States Department of State imposed sanctions on six Nigerian nationals convicted by an Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal for financing Boko Haram.
The individuals were found guilty of transferring $782,000 to the terrorist group between 2015 and 2016, highlighting the persistent challenge of foreign funding being funneled to terrorist activities.
USAID’s Response and Calls for Investigation
As of mid-February 2025, USAID has not officially responded to the allegations made by Congressman Perry.
However, the agency operates under strict financial oversight to ensure that its funds reach legitimate beneficiaries, focusing on healthcare, education, and economic development.
Meanwhile, a thorough independent investigation into Perry’s claims is expected commence, enabling the determination of the validity of these allegations and safeguard international aid programs from potential exploitation by terrorist networks.
The Nigerian government, diplomatic missions, and security agencies are expected to review the matter, while stakeholders emphasize the need for verified information to prevent misinformation that could disrupt crucial humanitarian efforts in conflict-affected regions.
