By Joseph Ologeh
There is no cause for worry over United Nations, UN military vehicles in Nigeria, the Defense Quarters has said.
In a statement made available to Irohinoodua the Defense Headquarters was reacting to some social media video clips been circulated arising from the presence of some United Nations Peacekeeping fighting vehicles and equipment sighted recently in Benin, Edo state.
“This has resulted to insinuations which are inimical to public peace and may even cause panic. The Defence Headquarters hereby state that presently, Nigeria is contributing troops to various United Nations Peace keeping operations, the most recent is United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), Southern Sudan,” it stated
It said the Mission is commanded by a Nigerian, Major General Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr.
The Headquarter noted that the UN doesn’t have its own troops, rather it enter into agreement with troops contributing countries to provide their personnel and equipment for operations in its various missions.
“It is imperative to state emphatically that the military fighting vehicles and equipment painted in UN colour as sighted are being moved through the Warri port for movement to the mission area in Southern Sudan to marry up with our troops who were inducted into UNISFA mission last month”
The statement said The Defence Headquarters under the leadership of General Lucky Irabor CFR wish to assure Nigerians that our nation is not under any threat that will warrant the deployment of United Nations troops in our soil.