Monday 29 August 2011

We informed govt 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, itwas non-specific, it didnot 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 andwhat 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 mobiletelephone at about 7.37pm was not repliedas 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 wellas UN humanitarian partners and an officialof 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.(Punch Newspaper)

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