Diplomatic Breach On UN: Shettima Settles Uproar

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… As humanitarian workers resumes      
BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – Following what was described as diplomatic breach by the United Nations (UN) on its house in Maiduguri, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State on Friday convened an emergency meeting of the State Security Council to resolve issues and concerns raised by humanitarian agencies.

Towards this end, the agencies of the UN are expected to resume their humanitarian activities on Sunday. The agencies on Friday August 11, 2017 announced the suspension of their activities.

The meeting which was attended the General Officer Commanding, 7th Division of the Nigerian Army, the State Commissioner of Police, the State Director of DSS and the United Nations Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Peter Lundberg, the Deputy Governor of Borno State, Secretary to the Borno Government ‎and the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, arose following a late night cordon-and-search operation on the premises of UN agencies in Maiduguri by the military as part of its week long search operations for fleeing Boko Haram terrorists conducted on 30 houses in different areas, one of which included a property occupied by the UN around Pompamari.

The search raised concerns amongst members of the international community with the UN directing its humanitarian workers operating in Borno State to remain indoors.

However, in a statement issued on Saturday, Special Adviser to Governor Shettima, on Communications and Strategy, Isa Gusau, said given the critical intervention humanitarian workers have been making in the affairs of internally displaced persons, the Borno Governor became worried and put a phone call to ‎the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed.

According to Gusau, “In their conversation, Shettima reassured the DSG of his government’s commitment to safeguarding humanitarian workers and ensuring that international protocol was restored by all security agencies.

“The Governor then convened an emergency security Council which in addition to heads of security establishments during which both the military and the UN officials discussed their areas of concerns with Governor Shettima.”

The spokesman to Governor Shettima further said that the UN was fully reassured of diplomatic protection and protocol, adding that at the end of the meeting, it was agreed that as a sign of good faith, all members of the State Security Council that include Governor Shettima and heads of military and other security establishments jointly pay a visit to the UN property involved in the military “cordon and search” on Friday in order to deepen relationship and to send a message of synergy to rebuild public confidence on humanitarian workers at the UN rented property and those operating in other parts of the State.

He also said that the meeting took measures to forestall repeat of Friday’s incident in line with international diplomatic protocol which confers diplomatic privilege on UN premises all over the world.

Gusau said; “The meeting agreed to deepen relationship between security agencies and international partners operating in Borno State for the good of residents.”

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