Nigerian Senate Agrees to Question Security Chiefs Over Alleged U.S. Aid to Boko Haram…Authorities Launch Probe Into Hoarding of IDP Relief Materials…Nigeria’s Inflation Falls to 24.48% in January…20 Killed in Fresh Wave of Violence
● Nigerian Lawmakers Seek Security Briefing After U.S. Congressman Links USAID to Boko Haram
The Nigerian Senate is investigating allegations that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Boko Haram, an Islamic terrorist group responsible for attacks in Nigeria.
The claim originated in the U.S. Congress when Representative Scott Perry alleged during a hearing that USAID provided financial support to Boko Haram. The statement gained attention in Nigeria, prompting the Senate to act.
On Tuesday, lawmakers agreed to summon the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and the heads of the State Security Service (SSS), Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and National Intelligence Agency (NIA) for a closed-door briefing.
“We cannot just keep quiet if USAID has been funding Boko Haram in Nigeria.,” said Senate President Godswill Akpabio, emphasizing the need for a thorough probe before acting against USAID’s operations in Nigeria. “Before we can take decisive steps and also ask for recompense, we must go deeper into the issue.,” Akpabio added, according to a report by The Guardian.
● Officials Uncover Hoarded Relief Materials at Abuja IDP Camp
The Nigerian government is investigating the hoarding of relief materials meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the Durumi IDP camp in Abuja.
Pilot News reported that Aliyu Ahmed, the Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), made the announcement after inspecting the camp recently.
“On our arrival, we saw so many things that were not necessary to happen here in this camp,” Ahmed said. “We have seen a situation where some of the classrooms were used to keep both food and non-food items that were supposed to have been distributed to the IDPs. We will not take that.”
Calling the situation “alarming,” Ahmed said the investigation will extend to other IDP camps. “If it’s happening here, it could be happening elsewhere,” he added.
● Nigeria’s Inflation Drops to 24.48% in January After CPI Update
Nigeria’s inflation rate fell to 24.48 percent in January 2025, down from 34.80 percent in December, following months of soaring prices that have strained households and businesses. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) attributed the decline to an updated Consumer Price Index (CPI), which reflects current consumer spending patterns.
Inflation has been a major concern in recent months, with food and energy costs surging due to supply chain disruptions, currency depreciation, and subsidy removals. December’s 34.80 percent inflation rate was the highest in nearly three decades.
Despite the reported decline, the NBS clarified that this does not indicate falling prices but rather a recalibration of inflation measurement. Food inflation dropped to 26.08 percent from 39.84 percent, while core inflation, excluding food and energy, fell to 22.59 percent from 29.28 percent.
● Armed Men Roam Freely in Benue, 20 Killed in 2 Days
National service workers stationed in Jato Aka Turan village in Benue State, are calling for urgent security intervention after suspected herdsmen killed at least 20 people in two days. The attacks, which began Sunday and continued through Tuesday, have thrown the community into panic.
Some service workers reported seeing armed men on motorcycles moving freely, despite the area’s proximity to a military base. “We are not safe,” one worker told SaharaReporters, adding that officials advised them to relocate to a neighboring town if the violence worsens.
Local residents have also pleaded for government intervention. “Several lives were lost, and properties worth millions were destroyed,” one Facebook user wrote.
The Benue State Police spokesperson declined to comment when contacted. Meanwhile, service workers remain fearful for their safety as attacks persist.
Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
