Borno promises enhanced security for aid workers

chika ebuzor

July 30, 2016 7:02 AM

The Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Mamman Durkwa, stated this while addressing newsmen in Maiduguri on Friday.

United Nations' Peace keepers

The Borno Government says it plans to mobilise additional security for aid workers in the state following Thursdays suspected terrorists attack on a convoy of a UN Humanitarian mission near Maiduguri.

The Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Mamman Durkwa, stated this while addressing newsmen in Maiduguri on Friday.

Durkwa said that government was disturbed about the incident.

"We are going to collaborate with all security agencies to mobilise additional security for aid workers in the state to prevent re-occurrence of what happened on Thursday,'' he said.

Durkwa said he had held meetings with officials of the UN Sub-Office in Maiduguri on the issue.

"Shortly after the incident on Thursday, I was informed by the Commissioner of Health, Dr Haruna Mshelia.

"I immediately notified the GOC 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Victor Izugwu, who promised to take action,'' he said.

"I was also directed by Gov. Kashim Shettima to get the full details of the incident.

"I visited the office in the morning and discovered that one of the eight aid workers was injured at the upper jaw, they were in the process of evacuating him to Abuja for proper treatment when I met them," Durkwa said.

The deputy governor condemned media reports on suspension of aid work by the UN office in the state over the incident.

"The issue of suspension of aid work by the UN in the state is not true.

"I met the UN officials and they told me that the attack would not deter them from doing their humanitarian work,'' Dukwa said.

He said that the officials never contemplated leaving the state as reported in the media.

"In fact, they asked me to extend their commendation to the gallant soldiers and members of the Civilian JTF who helped in repelling the attack.

"Throughout our discussions, there was no mention of suspension of humanitarian work in the state,'' Durkwa said.

chika ebuzor