UN Chief Ban Ki Moon Saddened By Deadly Violence In Northeast Nigeria
https://nigeriaafrica1.blogspot.com/2013/04/un-chief-ban-ki-moon-saddened-by-deadly.html
UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon on Monday said that he was “shocked and saddened” by the weekend violence in northeast Nigeria, which left at least 185 people dead, calling on all extremist groups in the country to cease their attacks.
“The secretary-general is shocked and saddened at the reports of high numbers of civilians killed, and homes destroyed, as a result of violence between military forces and an extremist group in the northeastern town of Baga in Borno State, Nigeria, on April 19 and 20,” said a statement issued here by Ban’s spokesman.
Ban “expresses his condolences to the bereaved families and calls on all extremist groups to cease their attacks,” the statement said.
“The secretary-general reiterates his firm conviction that no objective sought can justify this resort to violence,” said the statement.
“He underscores the need for all concerned to fully respect human rights and safeguard the lives of civilians.”
In addition to the high casualties, more than 2,000 houses were razed in the fishing Baga Community, which is on the fringe of Chad Basin, as a result of the attack, which led to a crossfire between the Nigerian military and the Boko Haram sect, earlier media reports said. More than 40 cars, 64 motorcycles and dozens of cattle were also burnt in the wake of the attack.
The weekend attack by the Boko Haram sect took place simply 72 hours after Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday approved the establishment of a 26-member committee to constructively engage key members of the sect in fruitful dialogue and define a comprehensive and feasible framework for resolving the crisis of insecurity in the northern part of the West African country.
Based in Nigeria’s Borno State, the sect has claimed responsibility for several attacks, in which more than 1,500 people including women and children were killed, since 2009.
Ban “expresses his condolences to the bereaved families and calls on all extremist groups to cease their attacks,” the statement said.
“The secretary-general reiterates his firm conviction that no objective sought can justify this resort to violence,” said the statement.
“He underscores the need for all concerned to fully respect human rights and safeguard the lives of civilians.”
In addition to the high casualties, more than 2,000 houses were razed in the fishing Baga Community, which is on the fringe of Chad Basin, as a result of the attack, which led to a crossfire between the Nigerian military and the Boko Haram sect, earlier media reports said. More than 40 cars, 64 motorcycles and dozens of cattle were also burnt in the wake of the attack.
The weekend attack by the Boko Haram sect took place simply 72 hours after Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday approved the establishment of a 26-member committee to constructively engage key members of the sect in fruitful dialogue and define a comprehensive and feasible framework for resolving the crisis of insecurity in the northern part of the West African country.
Based in Nigeria’s Borno State, the sect has claimed responsibility for several attacks, in which more than 1,500 people including women and children were killed, since 2009.
