‘Boko Haram, No Threat To UN’ …Even As Death Toll Rises

There is no specific threat by the Boko Haram sect against the  United Nations (UN) in Nigeria, the global body’s security chief, Greg Starr, has said.

Starr said this, yesterday, while speaking with newsmen, after inspecting the damaged UN House in Abuja following Friday’s bombing suicide.

Asked if the UN received any security threat from the Boko Haram in the country, he said the global body was not aware of any particular threat.

“No, we have some very vague and unspecific general threats, we have those worldwide and a lot of places, but  there was no specific threat against the United Nations in Nigeria from Boko Haram that I am aware of. In a low threat situation and we have to look at the threats that we have all over the world in what is considered a low and medium threat locations, we don’t spend most money on security. We invest heavily in those locations we have the greatest threat against our people and we have to find ways to operate in those high threat locations,’’ the UN security chief said.

He said the Nigerian government had asked the FBI to assist in the investigations, adding that the UN would be given the report of the outcome.

Starr, who said the first statement on the bomb explosion on the UN building must be investigated, also canvassed the need to spend more money on security at UN facilities.

“It is clear this is going to cause some re-assessment; I think you just have to understand that we have over 5,000 facilities around the world and we cannot spend all our money just on security. The problem is essential, we need to spend more money on security but every dollar that we spend on security, the dollars were not spent on medical care or development or humanitarian affairs.

“We have a real responsibility to protect our employees, we have a real responsibility to deliver programmes to the poor and needy around the world. The UN has to take the money that member states give us to do the best good for the people that we are trying to serve,’’ Starr said.

In a swift reaction, President Goodluck Jonathan has promised that Nigeria would help in the reconstruction of the UN building. Jonathan made the pledge at a meeting with the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Dr Asha-Rose Migiro, at the State House, Abuja, yesterday.

He said the Federal Government would offer temporary accommodation to the UN to enable its staff continue their humanitarian work.

Jonathan again expressed condolences to the United Nations’ family for the loss of lives and pledged assistance to enable immediate evacuation of the dead to their countries as well as medical treatment for the injured.

The president also commended Nigerians and foreign nationals who helped in the rescue operations. He further expressed appreciation for efforts aimed at bringing relief to those affected by the “ condemnable act of destruction of lives and property.”

Earlier, Migiro said she came to assess the situation after the attack on the UN House. She thanked the president and Nigerians for the quick response of the rescue team, adding that the UN would not be deterred in continuing with its work in the country.

Migiro said top-level officials of the UN would remain in Nigeria to carry out a thorough assessment and examination of the affected building in order to advise the Secretary-General accordingly.

She requested for assistance to ensure the quick evacuation of the dead to their countries.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, says 23 people have been confirmed dead in Friday’s bomb blast at the UN headquarters in Abuja.

The Minister disclosed this to newsmen during a visit of UN Deputy Secretary-General, Asha-Rose Migiro to the National Hospital, Abuja, yesterday.

The Minster commended workers at the various hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory for rising up to the situation.

“For now we have been able to document 23 deaths. Responses received at the hospitals have been very good and the collaboration by every group here has been tremendous,” the health minister said.

The  Minister had confirmed on Friday that 70 victims of the bombing were taken to the National Hospital, Abuja.  “Out of the 70 persons, eight were brought in dead, while 24 were relatively stable. They could walk by themselves; they were conscious, and in order not to congest the hospital, those ones were taken to other smaller hospitals.”

According to the Minister, the 38 wounded that require admission at the National Hospital are alive and receiving treatment.

“Right now we have five people in Intensive Care, one or two are quite critical, the others have been well resuscitated and even though they are really very injured, they are doing well, so far,” he said.

UN Deputy Secretary-General, Asha-Rose Migiro said there may not be need for overseas medical treatment for victims of the bomb blast.

Migiro told newsmen after her assessment of victims receiving treatment at the National Hospital, Abuja, that they were getting adequate attention so far.

“They are getting good attention here, but there is an understanding that if there is a need to get further medical attention outside Nigeria, that could be worked out by all the UN teams in Nigeria,” Migiro said.

She said that the UN was continuing the search for missing persons at the site of the blast.

“As you can see, the search and rescue teams, national and international, are here. The UN medical team is here. The counsellors are here and the Country Team is here, they were the first to respond to this issue. This is to make sure that the injured get the treatment required. We know that there are people who are dead and we are making plans for them to be laid to rest,” she said.

She, however said that the UN was assessing the impact of the attack on the UN community in the country. “We are also working together as Nigerians and as international community to address the various issues that would arise,’’ Migiro said.

Rescue workers at the UN building rescuing victims of the bomb blast in Abuja, last Friday.