We Informed The Government Of Threat – UN

The United Nations’ Security Chief, Gregory Starr, on Sunday said the United Nations country office’s security team discussed the “general” threats it received with Nigerian officials a month ago.

He, however, declined to be specific of the threats or the officials involved in the discussions.

Starr said this while responding to questions from journalists during a press conference addressed by the visiting Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro, in Abuja.

He said, “I will not discuss the specifics of these threats. However, about a month ago, we received general threats.

“It was very general, it was non-specific, it did not give us any details.

“Nevertheless, the security apparatus here did in fact, inform the host government; we can’t figure out specific actions that were taken.

“These are general threats we receive from UN offices all over the world.”

Earlier, Migiro told journalists that she and her team will be discussing with President Goodluck Jonathan and the country’s security team on what exactly happened on Friday and what could be done to strengthen security.

She said there was no justification for terrorism adding, “The perpetrators must be brought to justice.”

Attempts to get the reaction of the Police high command to the UN claim failed as a senior police officer who did not want his name mentioned, said that only the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, was in a position to comment on the matter.

Also, a text message sent to the IG’s mobile telephone at about 7.37pm was not replied as at the time of filing this report.

Migiro explained that victims of the attack were only in Nigeria to help.

She expressed sadness that cleaners, security guards as well as UN humanitarian partners and an official of the (Nigerian) Ministry of Health were among the dead.

“This was an attack on a working community that was helping the people of Nigeria-plain and simple” she said.

Migiro stressed that if the aim of the attackers was to deter the UN from its work in Nigeria and elsewhere, they would continue to fail.

She said, “Such attacks will neither deter us in our work, nor win any new sympathisers to whatever cause might be the motivation.

“Hunger and disease and the need to promote human rights does not stop or allow us to pause-the United Nations staff around the world must therefore carry on their duties and responsibilities.”

“And we do so on daily basis and we will continue to do so on daily basis, and we will continue to do so despite this barbaric attack.

“There can be no justification for terrorism. The perpetrators must be brought to justice.”

She also confirmed that the death toll of members of staff of the UN has increased to 21 as at Sunday.
THE PUNCH

Posted: at 30-08-2011 11:22 AM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

MAKE THIS ONE TEACH GOVERNMENT LESSON ABOUT THE NEED OF ACTIVE SECURITY.
I PRAY THIS MESS WON'T REPEAT ITSELF AGAIN.

Posted: at 30-08-2011 03:06 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

I perceive we have a federal government that is harmless and docile

Posted: at 30-08-2011 05:46 PM (13 years ago) | Newbie