Nigerian lawmakers launches an investigation into USAID’s activities in the North East following claims that American aid money might have funded terrorist groups like Boko Haram.

A U.S. congressman made allegations, prompting Nigeria’s federal lawmakers to act despite the U.S. ambassador, Richard Mills, denying the claims.

Mills said there was no proof that USAID was funding Boko Haram or any terrorist group in Nigeria.

Since the rise of Boko Haram in 2009, billions of dollars in foreign aid have been sent to help civilians in the North East.

The ongoing insurgency has killed about 35,000 people and displaced 2.5 million others. However, accusations against aid groups are not new.

In 2019, the Nigerian army banned two NGOs Action Against Hunger and Mercy Corps for allegedly supporting Boko Haram, which both groups denied.

Despite the probe, security experts argue that the real issue is the Nigerian military’s struggle to defeat Boko Haram.

The group funds itself through kidnappings, extortion, and smuggling. It also taxes communities under its control.

In 2020, a money laundering ring in Dubai sent $782,000 to Boko Haram, while in 2022, Nigeria’s intelligence unit identified 96 Boko Haram financiers but did not release their names.

Critics believe the government is using the USAID controversy to shift attention from its failures in tackling the insurgency. The probe could delay much-needed humanitarian aid for millions of people in the North East.