UN: Boko Haram planning to attack humanitarian workers in Borno

The United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) says Boko Haram and Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) terrorists are planning to attack humanitarian workers in Borno.

In an advisory released on Tuesday, the UNDSS said there are reasons to believe that the insurgents have concluded plans to kidnap humanitarian workers in Banki, Bama LGAs of the state.

ISWAP is a faction that broke out of the Abubakar Shekau-led Boko Haram after leadership disagreement.

Bama is one of the LGAs worst hit by terrorist attacks in Borno state.

The advisory did not indicate the specific time for the planned abduction but advised the government on the need to protect humanitarian workers in the country.

“As a mitigation measure the UNDSS FSA has alerted all Heads of Agencies (HoAs) and Security Focal Persons (SFP)  on the impending threat,” the advisory read.

“It also advised them to  ensure that staff vulnerability should be avoided and to also reduce the level of exposure of any kind.”

The UNDSS advisory comes two days after the United States (US) warned its citizens about the possibility of terror attacks in Nigeria.

Over the years, Borno has suffered attacks by terrorists who have destroyed several communities and displaced millions of people in the state.

In March 2022, ISWAP terrorists attacked a General Hospital in Gubio LGA, abducted a health worker and destroyed food items including fuel from a truck used by humanitarian officials in Borno.