US congressman alleges USAID funded Boko Haram and other terror groups

U.S. Congressman Scott Perry has alleged that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been funding terrorist organizations, including Boko Haram. Perry, a Republican representing Pennsylvania, made the claim during the inaugural hearing of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency on Thursday, February 13.

During the session, titled “The War on Waste: Stamping Out the Scourge of Improper Payments and Fraud,” Perry asserted that American taxpayer funds were being misused to support extremist groups.

“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,” Perry said.

He also criticized USAID’s reported $136 million expenditure on building 120 schools in Pakistan, claiming there was “zero evidence” of the schools’ construction.

“USAID spent $840 million in the last 20 years on Pakistan’s education-related programme. It includes $136 million to build 120 schools, of which there is zero evidence that any of them were built. Why would there be any evidence? The Inspector General can’t get in to see them,” Perry alleged.

He further questioned the legitimacy of USAID-funded programs aimed at women’s education in Afghanistan, arguing that such initiatives were unrealistic given the Taliban’s restrictions on women.

“If you think that the programme under Operation Enduring Sentinel entitled Women’s Scholarship Endowment, which receives $60 million annually, or the Young Women Lead, which gets about $5 million annually, is going to women who, by the way, if you read the Inspector General’s report, is telling you that the Taliban does not allow women to speak in public, yet somehow you’re believing, and the American people are supposed to believe, that this money is going for the betterment of the women in Afghanistan. It is not,” Perry stated.

“You are funding terrorism, and it’s coming through USAID. And it’s not just Afghanistan, because Pakistan’s right next door,” he added.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has previously called for USAID’s closure, accusing it of corruption. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the agency was part of a larger effort to dismantle government waste and bureaucracy.

Elon Musk, whom Trump appointed to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, has also criticized USAID, alleging it engages in rogue operations. Musk described the agency as “a viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists who hate America” and vowed to shut it down. He also claimed that USAID had been involved in “rogue CIA work” and had even “funded bioweapon research, including COVID-19, that killed millions of people.”

Trump emphasized that his administration’s goal was to “dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excessive regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies — essential to the ‘Save America’ movement.”

Abductors of APC national director demand N350m ransom

The abductors of Dr. Adekunle Raif Adeniji, the Director of Administration at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretariat, Abuja, have demanded a ransom of N350m for his release.

Dr Adeniji was abducted two weeks ago by gunmen wielding AK-47 rifles in the Chikakore area of Kubwa, within the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He was taken along with three others, including his brother, the wife and son, during the attack.

It was gathered that the APC chieftain was on a visit to his brother’s residence when the gunmen struck.

However, the brother’s wife, Madam Esther, was k!lled by the abductors and her body was discovered around Ijah-Gbagyi community in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State the following day.

His family was reportedly contacted by the kidnappers, who are insisting that the payment be made for his freedom.  

A member of the family, who spoke with Daily Trust on Tuesday, February 11, said the director and others were still in captivity and the abductors said he will not be released until the money is paid.

A source within the APC also confirmed this development the publication.

A source at the APC national secretariat said, “Yes, it’s true. But it’s not something that we want to discuss.”

On whether the abductors have demanded a ransom, he said, “Well, efforts are being made to secure his release, and we don’t want to blow it.”

Another top official at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja also confirmed the abduction.

“It’s true. This one I am telling you is a confidential confirmation. But we are seeing to his release soon.”

Gunmen abduct three students in Ondo state, demand N15m ransom

The Ondo State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of three students of the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure while working at a farm near the Akure Airport in the Oba-ile area of Akure North Local Government Area of the state. 

The victims who are students undergoing Industrial Training (IT) in the farm were reportedly abducted on Saturday evening while returning home.

Confirming the incident to newsmen, the Public Relations Officer of Ondo state police command, ‘Funmilayo Odunlami,  said anti-kidnapping operatives of the command have been deployed to the area.

Also, the Commander of Amotekun Corps in the state, Adetunji Adeleye, confirmed the incident. He noted that his men and other security operatives in the state were coming to the whole area in search of the victims.

Meanwhile, a family source disclosed that the abductors have reached out to the families of the victims, demanding a ransom of N15 million as ransom.

Police arrest suspected child trafficker, rescue 5-year-old victim in Imo

The Imo State Police Command has arrested a suspected child trafficker, Onyinyechi Emeka and rescued a stolen five-year-old boy in her custody.

Spokesperson of the command,  Henry Okoye, said the suspect, aged 40, was apprehended on Friday, February 7, 2025 by the Commands operatives conducting a stop and search in Okigwe.

According to the PPRO, the suspect, who hails from Umuokwu Mbutu, Isiala Ngwa South LGA of Abia State, was en route to Ebonyi State with the boy. 

When quizzed about the boy, she initially claimed he was her sister’s son but the inconsistencies in her answers raised suspicion.

Okoye further stated that investigations revealed that the boy who was stolen from his mother’s shop in Abia State, displayed a remarkable awareness by providing his father’s phone. 

“On 7th February 2025, police operatives attached to the Imo State Command, while conducting a routine stop-and-search operation in Okigwe, intercepted a suspected child trafficker, Onyinyechi Emeka, 40 years old, from Umuokwu Mbutu, Isiala Ngwa South LGA of Abia State. She was en route to Ebonyi State with a five-year-old boy, later confirmed to have been stolen,” the statement read.

"Investigations revealed that the child had been stolen from his mother’s shop at No. 22 Chimezie Street, Obohia, Abia State.

"The suspect initially claimed the boy was her sister’s son, but inconsistencies in her statements raised suspicion. The child, displaying remarkable awareness, provided his father’s phone number, leading to his identification as a missing child reported in Abia State.

"Further investigation revealed that the suspect had collected ₦30,000 from a syndicate that remains at large to deliver the child to a buyer in Ebonyi State.

“The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation to apprehend other syndicate members. The suspect will face prosecution upon conclusion of investigations."