Major General Adekunle Ariyibi, Chief of Defence Standards and Evaluations at the Defence Headquarters, has confirmed that Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) receive financial backing from foreign sources.
Speaking on The Morning Brief, a Channels Television program, Ariyibi revealed that external support, both financial and logistical, has enabled the terrorist groups to sustain their operations for over 15 years.
“This kind of insurgency cannot persist for this long without foreign collaboration and assistance,” he stated.
He further explained that their affiliation with ISIS has provided them access to advanced weaponry, international funding, and even drone technology for reconnaissance and attacks.
“The impact of their alliance with ISIS is evident in their improved weaponry and operational capabilities.
“They are now using drones, not just for surveillance but also for launching armed strikes,” he added.
Ariyibi’s remarks come in the wake of allegations by US Congressman Scott Perry, who claimed that the now-aborted United States Agency for International Development (USAID) had financed terrorist organizations, including Boko Haram.
The Nigerian government has previously identified individuals and Bureau de Change (BDC) operators as financiers of terrorism, while authorities in the UAE and the US have taken action against those linked to funding extremist activities.
