WATCH THE VIDEO HERE THE Chief of Defence Standards and Evaluations at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Major General Adekunle Ariyibi, has asserted that Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) benefit from foreign funding, which has sustained their operations for over 15 years. Speaking in an interview today, Ariyibi explained that the financial backing from outside Nigeria has played a significant role in the resilience and evolution of these terrorist groups. “There’s no doubt that this kind of operation cannot be sustained for 15 years without external collaboration and assistance,” he said According to him, the alliance between Boko Haram, ISWAP, and ISIS has given them access to international funding, which is evident in their increasing use of advanced weaponry, including drones capable of delivering lethal attacks. His remarks come amid growing concerns over reports that terrorist groups may have received funding from international sources. Last week, US Congressman Scott Perry alleged that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) had indirectly financed terrorist organizations like Boko Haram—an accusation that has sparked intense debate. Ariyibi reinforced the claim that external funding plays a crucial role in sustaining these groups beyond local revenue sources like extortion and illegal taxation. “You can’t say it’s just an allegation; it’s more than that,” he emphasized, aligning with calls for the Nigerian government and National Assembly to investigate the claims thoroughly. In 2024, the Federal Government identified several individuals and Bureau de Change (BDC) operators as financiers of terrorism. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates and the US have also taken action in the past by freezing the assets of individuals linked to terrorism funding and imposing sanctions on them.
Boko Haram, ISWAP receive foreign funding – Gen. Ariyibi
