- Says equipment meant for peacekeeping in Sudan
From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has called on Nigerians not to panic over the presence of United Nations Peacekeeping combat vehicles and equipment sighted recently in Benin, Edo State.
It says the military fighting vehicles and equipment painted in UN colour were being moved through the Warri port for movement 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 this known, said the information has become necessary to douse tension and insinuation which are inimical to public peace and may even cause panic.
Gusau, in a statement issued in n Abuja, said:
“The Defence Headquarters hereby state that presently, Nigeria is contributing troops to various United Nations Peacekeeping operations, the most recent is 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 an 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 UNISFA mission last month.
“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.”