By Lawrence Audu
The United Nations has condemned an attack and killing of an aid worker by a soldier in Damboa local government area of Borno state.
A soldier had shot and killed a staff of one of the NGOs providing humanitarian support in the Northeast. Same soldier also killed another soldier and injured the co-pilot of one of the UN helicopters Thursday.
Reacting to the incident, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, commiserated with the family of the deceased aid worker.
Schmale, in a statement issued on Friday said, “Yesterday’s killing of a staff member of the humanitarian non-governmental organization Medecins du Monde in Damboa, Borno State is deeply disturbing and sad.”
“On behalf of the United Nations, I convey my heartfelt condolences to the aid worker’s family and to her colleagues.”
“I also wish a speedy recovery to a pilot working with the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) who was injured in the deplorable attack by an apparently rogue soldier.”
“All humanitarian staff working in north-east Nigeria deserve our fullest respect for their courage and commitment to stay and deliver life-saving assistance to people in need in often difficult and dangerous circumstances. Humanitarian workers must be protected.”
While commending the quick interventions by all actors, the UN envoy said, “I commend the Government and the military’s efforts to speedily investigate yesterday’s incident and urge them to strengthen remedial measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.”
following the development, the Theatre Commander Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Chris Musa said troops on the ground immediately neutralized the errant personnel. “The injured co-pilot has been stabilized while the corpses of the deceased have been moved to the 7 Division Hospital. Detailed investigation into the incident and subsequent remedial actions have commenced into the highly regrettable incident. Further details will be provided later” he said in a statement signed by the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations Major Samson Nantip Zhakom.