Army To Continue To Partner UN On Humanitarian Crisis

The Nigerian Army has restated its commitment to collaborate with United Nations agencies and other organisations to address humanitarian crisis caused by Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.- Gen. Tukur Buratai, gave the commitment at a dinner and media interactive session organised for editors and defence correspondents in Maiduguri.
Buratai, who was reacting to recent misunderstanding between the military and the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), said the issues had been resolved amicably.
He declared: “I assure you that there is no enmity  between the UNICEF, the Nigerian Military and in particular the Nigerian Army.
“Indeed, in this operation we will continue to cooperate with them to ensure that we carry out the necessary humanitarian aid and support for the agencies to carry out their responsibilities.
“What transpired is something that could not have happened but at times you have to take necessary steps knowing that the right result would be achieved.
“These are times not within the normal situations, these are times where some many lives were lost.
This is a time when so many trying activities are taking place, and such times have led to frustration of our efforts in various operations in the northeast.
“It is important to note that whatever we are doing, we are conscious of our international obligations as well as the need to safeguard national security.
“I am sure that the international organisations will not subscribe or allow any actions or inactions of certain individuals or groups to jeopardise the national security of the country they operate and this is quite fundamental,” he said.