Military: report on attack on UN workers grossly
misrepresented
The United Nations on Monday warned that
continued ambush of humanitarian workers by
Boko Haram terrorists could affect UN
intervention and assistance to the needy in the
North-east, where there has been a resurgence
of attacks and killings by the sect in the last
two months.

This came as the Nigerian Army denied that
four UN staff had been killed and four trucks
conveying food for internally displaced persons
(IDPs) were carted away.
Boko Haram terrorists were alleged to have
attacked a convoy carrying UN humanitarian
workers in Borno State.
The rise in ambush of UN workers have sort of
created a palpable air of unease between the
Nigerian military and the UN in recent times.
Speaking on the Borno State ambush, the UN
Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Edward
Kallon, deplored the deadly ambush on a convoy
carrying humanitarian food supplies for conflict-
affected persons on December 16.

Kallon expressed great concern over the
limitations that attacks of this nature may have
on the delivery of life-saving supplies to people
in need in North-east Nigeria.

According to him, the by a non-state armed
group took place on the road between Dikwa
and Gamboru in Borno State, and resulted in the
reported loss of at least four civilian lives as
well as the destruction of basic aid items
initially destined to alleviate the suffering of
thousands of women, children and men.
“Violence against convoys carrying humanitarian
aid is unacceptable and can result in concerning
limitations in our ability to provide life-saving
relief to those who need it the most.
“We must ensure the safety of aid workers and
aid convoys across the North-east of Nigeria, so
people in need of assistance can access it in a
timely manner and in sufficient quantity. Many
lives are at risk,” Kallon added.

He stated that the United Nations and its
partners operate in the north-east of Nigeria in
order to provide life-saving assistance to 6.9
million people affected by the brutal conflict.
Humanitarian operations are carried out
following the four basic humanitarian principles
of operational independence, humanity,
impartiality and neutrality and should be
respected as such.
“Since January 2017, despite major challenges,
humanitarian operations in north-east Nigeria
have managed to assist over 5 million conflict-
affected people in the states of Adamawa,
Borno and Yobe, including three million with
food security interventions, 936,000 with
nutritional support, five million with health care
assistance, and over 1.3 million with safe
drinking water,” he observed.

But the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations,
Col Onyema Nwachukwu of the Theatre
Command, Operation Lafiya Dole explained that
“contrary to the information currently making
the rounds in a section of the media that four
United Nations staff had been killed and four
trucks conveying food for internally displaced
persons were carted away, the Theatre
Command Operation Lafiya Dole wishes to state
that the report grossly misrepresents the true
situation of the incident as none of the
casualties in the encounter has been identified
as a staff of the UN.

“In setting the record straight, it is necessary to
state here that a patrol escorting a convoy of
civilian vehicles to Logomani encountered an
ambush staged by elements of Boko Haram
insurgents at Maula village along Dikwa-Ngala
trans sahara highway which resulted in a
firefight between troops and the insurgents.

“The troops however fought through the
ambush, overpowered the insurgents and killed
six of them. The troops also captured 3 AK 47
rifles, 3 locally fabricated fire arms, 4
magazines and a belt of 7.62 mm ammunition.

“Sadly four persons died in the encounter.
Although none of the persons killed in the
ambush has so far been identified as a staff of
the UN, this Headquarters considers the lives of
all citizens and indeed all humans sacrosanct,
which must be protected by troops even at a
supreme price.
“The situation has been brought under control
and and further exploitation of the general area
is currently being carried out by Mobile strike
Team of Operation Lafiya Dole,” Nwachukwu
stated.

www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/12/19/un-troops-give-different-account-on-borno-ambush/

Mynd44
lalasticlala

Rest in Peace to the dead. At the end of the day, the masses are the casualties of this senseless violence.