…Calls on Nigerian Govt to Clarify the Motive
By Chibuike Nwabuko
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Edward Kallon, has expressed grave concern over the unauthorized search on its humanitarian workers’ base in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Kallon made this known in a statement signed by Samantha Newport, Head of Communications, OCHA Nigeria and made available to Sundiata Post.
The coordinator informed that the security forces entered the UN base in the north east without authorisation at 0500hrs on Friday, carried out a search of the tent house till 0800hrs.
According to the Kallon, “At circa 0500 hours today, members of the Nigerian security forces entered the UN base for humanitarian workers in Maiduguri without authorization. The security forces carried out a search of the tented camp and left the area at circa 0800 hours.
The coordinator, who stressed that UN is working closely with Nigerian government on the humanitarian crises in the North east, said it does not have any information at this time regarding the reason or motivations for the unauthorized search.
He therefore called on the government to provide clarification on why the security forces carried out unauthorized search.
Since we are working closely with the Government of Nigeria to resolve this to resolve the humanitarian crisis in north east Nigeria, I am extremely concerned that these actions could be detrimental to the critical work that is being carried out every day to support the most vulnerable in the region and I call upon the Government of Nigeria to provide clarification, Mr Kallon said.
Recall that 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.