• DHQ Denies
Invasion Of House, Says Building Had No Sign It Was Occupied By UN
The United
Nations (UN) Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon,
yesterday
expressed “grave concern” over “unauthorized search” by security forces on a UN
base for humanitarian workers in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Kallon
expressed displeasure over the search, according to a statement issued in
Maiduguri to journalists yesterday by the Head of Communications, Samantha
Newports.
But the
Defence Headquarters (DHQ) denied news that troops of Operation Lafiya Dole
invaded the United Nations (UN) house in Maiduguri, saying the report is not
true
A statement
signed late yesterday by Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj-Gen. John
Enenche, in Abuja, said the operation was only a cordon and search operation
conducted in that general area in line with the re-invigorated effort of the
military on counter-terrorism operations in the northeast as a whole.
Enenche
added that the house being referred to as UN building was an unmarked
accommodation without any sign that it was occupied by the world body, adding
that the search operation was conducted peacefully at the premises, when the
troops were allowed into it, just like other buildings.
He insisted
that the relationship between the Nigerian military and the UN has been
cordial, aimed at working towards a more secured world in general and Nigeria
in particular, which will be sustained and everything would be done by the
Nigerian military to ensure that the UN activities and interests are given
adequate protection and encouragement.
He urged the
public to disregard the information that the UN building in Maiduguri was
raided by troops.
As part of
the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the northeast, the Nigerian Army
said it conducted cordon and search operation at a building, following an alert
that some high profile Boko Haram members were living there.
A statement
signed by the spokesman of the 7 Division and Theatre Command of Operation
Lafiya Dole, Lt. Col Kingsley Samuel, said the Army had intensified cordon and
search operations in Maiduguri and its environs to clear the remnants of Boko
Haram insurgents.
The
statement reads: “On August 10, this year, Theatre Command received information
from one of its credible sources that some high value BHT suspects had
infiltrated into Pompomari Bye-Pass.
“It,
therefore, became expedient to take preemptive action by combing the general
area through a cordon and search operations.
“The
operation was successfully conducted, as over 30 houses were searched. One of
such building included a property, which was said to be occupied by UN staff,
although the property did not carry a UN designation.
“On the
whole, operation in the general area was successfully concluded, but no arrest
was made because the suspects were not found,” the statement said.
Samuel added
that troops under the Operation Lafiya Dole had been conducting several
clearance and cordon and search operations in urban and rural areas within the
Theatre, adding that the clearance operation efforts had yielded significant
successes in the past weeks.
According to
him, the operation had forced the Boko Haram insurgents to change tactics and
resort to suicide bombing, targeting military locations and the populace.
He, however,
noted that the operation was necessitated by the need to intensify cordon and
search operation in Maiduguri metropolis and its environs, listing other areas
affected by the operation as Jiddari-Polo, Muna Garage, Jakana, among others.
“The Command
wishes to assure the general public that the operations are being conducted to
safeguard lives and property, but not targeted at any individual or group.”
He warned
against peddling of rumours that could cause disaffection among the various
ethnic and religious groups of people in the state.
According to
Kallon: “At circa 0500 hours today (yesterday), members of the
Nigerian
security forces entered the UN base for humanitarian workers in Maiduguri
without authorisation.
“The
security forces carried out a search of the tented camp and left the area at
circa 0800 hours.
“The UNs
does not have any information at this time regarding the reason or motivations
for the unauthorised search. The Humanitarian Coordinator is working closely
with the Government of Nigeria to resolve this issue.
“The
humanitarian crisis in Nigeria’s northeast is one of the most severe in the
world today.”
He cautioned
that such actions could be detrimental to the critical work being carried out
on a daily basis to support the vulnerable in the region and called on the
Federal Government to promptly provide clarifications on the matter.
The UN and
other 50 non-governmental humanitarian organisations are working in support of
the Nigerian government to provide aid, including food, safe water and
medicine, to over 6.9 million people in need in the region.
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