The United Nations and the Nigerian Army on Friday clashed over the
invasion of a building occupied by the world body on Friday in Maiduguri, Borno
State.
The Army, in a statement on Friday, defended its action, saying the
action was part of counter-insurgency activities of its Theatre Command
Operation Lafiya Dole. The statement was signed by the 7th Division
spokesperson, Kingsley Samuel.
It stated that it had been conducting cordon and search operations in
urban and rural areas within the state.
According to the Army, the clearance operations have been yielding
successes.
The Army stated, “It has forced the Boko Haram terrorists to change
tactics and resort to the employment of suicide bombers to target military
locations and the populace. This necessitated the need to intensify cordon and
search in the Maiduguri metropolis and environment.
“In the last one week, cordon and search operations were conducted in
Jiddari –Polo, Muna Garage, and Jakana amongst several other areas. On August
10, 2017, the Theatre Command received information from one of its credible
sources that some high-value Boko Haram suspects had infiltrated into Pompomari
Bypass.
“It, therefore, became expedient to take preemptive action by combing
the general area through a cordon and search operation. The operation was
successfully conducted as over 30 houses were searched.
“One of such included a property, which was said to be occupied by the
United Nations staff members, although the property did not carry a UN
designation.
“On the whole, the operation in the general area was successfully
concluded but no arrest was made because the suspects were not found.”
Search without authorisation –UN
But the UN, in a statement said its Humanitarian Coordinator for
Nigeria, Edward Kallon, stated that the search was without authorisation. The
statement was signed by its Head of Communications, Samantha Newport.
Kallon expressed grave concern over the unauthorised search of the UN
base for humanitarian workers in Maiduguri.
Kallon stated, “At circa 0500 hours today (Friday), 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 United Nations 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 North-East is one of
the most severe in the world today.”
Kallon said that he was
extremely concerned that the actions could be detrimental to the critical work
that was being carried out every day to support the most vulnerable in the
region, adding “I call upon the Government of Nigeria to provide clarification.
“The United Nations and more than 50 non-governmental humanitarian
organisations are working in support of the Government of Nigeria to provide
aid, including food, safe water and medicine, to some 6.9 million people in
need in the Northeast.”
Army searching for Shekau in UN building –Report
An internal UN memo seen by the Agence France Presse suggested that the
Nigerian forces might have been searching for the leader of the jihadist Boko
Haram group, Abubakar Shekau, after rumours spread locally that he was hiding
in the compound known as the “Red Roof”.
“Information about Shekau’s presence in the Red Roof was already being
spread yesterday (Thursday) on the social media,” said the document, apparently
issued by the UN’s Department of Safety.
“At about 2 a.m. early this morning, Nigerian Army troops in trucks are
conducting… (a) search on UN Red Roof Humanitarian camp and forced their way
into the property.”
All UN staff members in Maiduguri were ordered to work from home by the
note, which warned of demonstrations
against the organisation and other foreign groups active in the area.
A UN source told AFP such searches were illegal under international law
and risk raising suspicions about the organisation’s work.
Nothing wrong with search –Tsav
A retired commissioner of police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, however, said
there was nothing wrong with the search of the UN building by the military
since it was geared towards the elimination of terrorism, a goal the world body
was also working towards.
He observed that the military might not have informed the UN about its
plans based on the time frame of the intelligence at its disposal.
Tsav said, “There is nothing wrong with the military searching the UN
property. If they suspected that someone is hiding in the building, they could
search it and I don’t think the UN should object since they are working towards
the same goal of fighting insurgency.
“I don’t think the UN should be angry (over the search) unless it is
supporting the insurgents,” the security expert added.
When contacted about the development and government’s position on it,
the acting spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Jane Adam, said, “I
will find out and get back to you.”
She had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report. Later, she
did not pick calls to her mobile phone.
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