The Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command, CP Miller G. Dantawaye, on Thursday received delegation from the Civil Society Organisation led by its Chairman, Ambassador Idris Muraina. The visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration between the Police and the CSO to ensure a peaceful and well-coordinated environment for community engagement.

During the visit, the CSO Chairman highlighted the importance of partnerships in fostering peace and addressing societal challenges. He emphasized that networks within the community are integrated into the People-Oriented Policing and Development Management Program, which plays a crucial role in maintaining harmony and facilitating dialogue between Stakeholders.

“We believe in creating a structure where everyone has a voice and can contribute to the development of our community. Our role is to ensure that we engage constructively with relevant authorities to resolve concerns peacefully,” the Chairman stated.

CP Miller G. Dantawaye commended the members of CSOs for their commitment to fostering dialogue and ensuring that civil society organizations operate within a structured and peaceful framework. He reiterated the Command’s level of commitment to maintaining law and order while encouraging open communication with community stakeholders.

The meeting also touched on the importance of responsible advocacy, ensuring that protests and public demonstrations remain peaceful and constructive. Both parties agreed to enhance cooperation in addressing security concerns and supporting initiatives that promote public safety and social stability.

The visit concluded with a commitment from both sides to continue working together in promoting peace, security, and development.

Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Mohammed Ndume has demanded for investigation of claims by the United States congressman, Scott Perry who claimed that the United States Agency for International Development, USAID has been funding terrorist organisations, including Boko Haram in the North Eastern Nigeria.

He expressed concerns over the allegation, stating that the claim should not be swept under the carpet, but it should be investigated by the National Assembly, the Federal Government and other relevant security agencies.

The lawmaker who hails from the Southern Borno, an hotbed of Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West African Province, ISWAP operations, was reacting to claims by the American lawmaker, a Republican from Pennsylvania on Thursday last week during the inaugural public hearing of the U.S House SubCommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency in the United States.

In a viral video, which could be obtained across several media platforms, Perry alleged that USAID had been providing up to $697m annually to terrorist groups, including Boko Haram.

But the former Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate, Ndume speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday, Ndume recalled devastation caused by terrorists, wondering about the sophistication of weapons at their disposal.

Ndume said: “Boko Haram has ravaged not only the North-East but even Nigeria as a whole. You can remember how Boko Haram bombed the police headquarters and the UN office in Abuja.

The casualties were enormous. But the security agencies have raised this issue indirectly several times. Even the Borno State government was wary of the operations of some NGOs,” Ndume stated.

He recalled a past security operation where an NGO was allegedly caught training individuals on how to use firearms.

“We have been wondering for years—aside from raids and kidnappings—where are these terrorists getting their funds? It’s worrisome. Now that a U.S. Congressman has openly spoken about it, we can’t dismiss it as just an allegation.

It’s more than that. That’s why the Nigerian government and the National Assembly, especially, need to investigate and verify the veracity of such claims,” he added.

Ask FG, NASS to launch investigation, go after sponsors | Gen Kukasheka, Ejiofor share suspicions on NGO activities
Security experts have advised the National Assembly, Federal Government and the various security agencies to probe allegation by the United States congressman, Scott Perry that USAID was involved in funding Boko Harm and other terrorists in the country.

A United States Congressman representing Pennsylvania, Scott Perry, had accused the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) of funding terrorist organisations like Boko Haram.

He disclosed this at the inaugural hearing of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency on Thursday while speaking during a session entitled “The War on Waste: Stamping Out the Scourge of Improper Payments and Fraud.”

Perry accused USAID of providing $136 million to build 120 schools in Pakistan. He, however, noted “zero evidence” of the schools’ construction.

Perry asked: “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.

“You are funding terrorism, and it’s coming through USAID. And it’s not just Afghanistan because Pakistan’s right next door. Somebody else got the money. You are paying for terrorism. This has got to end.”

This comes as former President Donald Trump moved to shut down USAID’s operations.

Trump had accused the agency of corruption Speaking to LEADERSHIP, a former director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Barr. Mike Ejiofor, called security agencies and the National Assembly to investigate the allegations.

“I don’t have much information, but he has his. All I expect the National Assembly and our security agencies to do is to investigate the allegations. If it’s true that USAID has been sponsoring Boko Haram, then that’s very dangerous,” he said.

A former Army spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman (rtd) lamented the lack of patriotism among Nigerians despite the country facing existential threats from Boko Haram.

He equally called for a thorough investigation to ascertain the veracity of such revelations.

He said, “We face an existential threat, but Nigerians are not patriotic enough. We have suspected these and tried to convince Nigerians, but they wouldn’t believe us.”

He said there are international nongovernmental organisations (NGO) that have paid for accommodation in advance for ten years and above.

He added that the US had, following the action of some Nigerians, imposed an arms embargo on Nigeria despite the country facing existential threats.

“Many of us want to eat our cake and have it, but life doesn’t work like that. Americans have always been pursuing their national interest; anytime they give anything, they know what they want and how to go about it. There is no way somebody would wake up and give you the best of the best, so I’m not surprised because there must be some strings attached.”

He recalled that security agencies had uncovered a female Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operative who rented an apartment in Maiduguri and stayed for an extended period.

“When we raised issues at the time about the move of some of these NGOs, Nigerians said it was a lie.

“It has been there, and that is why we keep emphasising that security is local, so let us develop local resilience.
“These have been there as allegations, and now that the US Congressman has brought them up, there is a need to investigate them thoroughly. He has lent credence to things that have been suspected over time; therefore, it is necessary to examine them and ensure that such doesn’t continue thoroughly.

“As a former Army spokesman, I know there have been suspicions; several commanders have called for NGOs regulation due to their suspicious activities, which is unsurprising. People have been raising the concern,” he said
A victim of Boko Haram who doesn’t want to be named expressed disappointment at the revelation.

He said the Borno State government strictly regulates the activities of NGOs, so it is surprising that the same NGOs will be funding the activities of Boko Haram, which has destroyed many lives.
The Ministry of Defence’s spokesperson, Henshaw Ogubike, could not be reached on his phone line to discuss the Ministry’s position on the revelation.
He also did not respond to messages trying to get his official comment at the time of this report.