The United Nations (UN) Resident Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon has condemned the ongoing attacks on Dikwa, a border community with Cameroon. The insurgents in gun trucks have since Sunday, had taken over Dikwa with the torching of UN aid facilities, while residents flee for safety in nearby communities. In a statement Tuesday (yesterday) in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, Kallon disclosed that: “I am gravely preoccupied by reports of an ongoing violent attack by non-state armed groups in Dikwa, Borno State, during which several aid facilities were directly targeted.“The attack started last night and, as information is still coming through, I am outraged to hear the premises of several aid agencies and a hospital were reportedly set ablaze or sustained damage. “I strongly condemn the attack and am deeply concerned about the safety and security of civilians in Dikwa, including internally displaced people inside and outside camps and thousands of people who had returned to the community to rebuild their lives after years in displacement.”
He however regretted that the ongoing violent attack of the rice producing border community” will affect the support provided to nearly 100,000 people who are desperately in need of humanitarian assistance and protection. According to him, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic risks spreading in Borno state. He warned that civilians and aid workers including their facilities and assets should never be a target in the ongoing attacks.“They must be protected and respected at all times,” he declared. He therefore called on all armed parties to immediately stop the violence and respect international humanitarian law and human rights law.“They must ensure the protection of civilians, humanitarian property and personnel,” he said. Dikwa has suffered several attacks by the Boko Haram insurgents in the last 11 years. He said rice farmers find it very difficult to produce the delicacy which has been said to be the best in the Northeast region.
