Nigerian Army, United Nations clash over invasion of UN building

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.

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.

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”.

A UN source told AFP such searches were illegal under international law and risk raising suspicions about the organisation’s work.