From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has called on Nigerians not to panic over the presence of some United Nations Peacekeeping fighting vehicles and equipment sighted recently in Benin, Edo State.
It said the military fighting vehicles and equipment painted in UN colour were being moved through the Warri port to the mission area in Southern Sudan, to marry up with Nigerian troops who were inducted into the UNISFA mission last month.
Acting Director, Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, who made the disclosure, said the information became necessary to douse tension and insinuations which are inimical to public peace and may even cause panic.
Gusau, in a statement issued in Abuja, said: “The Defence Headquarters, hereby, states that presently, Nigeria is contributing troops to various United Nations Peacekeeping operations, the most recent is the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), Southern Sudan.
“The mission is commanded by a Nigerian, Major General Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr. It should be noted that the UN doesn’t have its own troops, rather it enters into agreement with troops contributing countries to provide their personnel and equipment for operations in its various missions.
Therefore, 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 the UNISFA mission last month.
The Defence Headquarters, under the leadership of General Lucky Irabor, wishes to assure Nigerians that our nation is not under any threat that would warrant the deployment of United Nations troops on our soil.