Presidency accuses London Telegraph of strengthening Boko Haram

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President Muhammadu Buhari has reacted to the reports from London Telegraph accusing the federal government of diverting UK aid monies away from defeating Boko Haram towards prosecuting perceived political opponents of the incumbent administration.

In a statement signed by the presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, the government defined the accusations as incorrect and unhelpful.

It reads: “To state the facts: the UK government does not give development aid to the Nigerian administration for use in military operations against Boko Haram. Where British military support – such as intelligence – is provided, it is precisely and only, given for operations directly against Boko Haram,” the statement said.

“Similarly, the Nigerian Government is in no position to divert aid monies used for emergency relief for refugees or IDP camps for any other purpose, as these are dispensed directly by DFID, USAID, the United Nations, the International Red Cross, Doctors without Borders and many other organizations – with which we enjoy excellent relations.” it added.

Shehu continued that contrary to reports, President Buhari since his inauguration, has treated all Nigerians without bias for ethnicity or religion – as the composition of his government and the policies and programmes of his administration show.

“To suggest his government as deepening Muslim-Christian division is not only untrue, but plays into the hands of Boko Haram who wish to divide Nigerians along religious lines. Fighting this group is key priority of President Buhari’s administration. Indeed the international community has widely acknowledged his determination to defeat terrorism in Nigeria and the entire Lake Chad Basin.

“There is nothing to gain by attempting to mould public opinion against these facts. Therefore we invite The Telegraph to visit Nigeria: to witness first hand not only the challenges we face, but the administration’s determination to confront them,” the statement says.

London based newspaper this year published two controversial articles titled “Children Face Death by Starvation in Northern Nigeria” and an earlier one on April 12 headed, “Nigeria Using UK Aid to Persecute President’s Political Foes.”

In it, the newspaper had supposed that Nigeria was diverting UK aid money away from defeating the Islamist terror group Boko Haram towards those it identified as political opponents of the administration.