Updated: 4 killed, 3 abducted as Boko Haram attacks UN vehicle carrying food
An attack on UN vehicle by Boko Haram has led to the death of four aide workers of the World Food Programme (WFP) and abduction of another three workers.
- Four workers of the United Nations have been killed by Boko Haram insurgents
- The UN workers were killed after the terrorists ambushed their vehicle
An attack launched on a United Nations vehicle by members of the extremist group Boko Haram has led to the death of four aide workers of the World Food Programme (WFP) and abduction of three others.
According to a report by Premium Times, the armed men ambushed a military-escorted convoy of food trucks taking supply to an internally displaced persons camp in Ngala village of Borno state on Saturday, December 16.
The WFP’s communication officer at the Maiduguri area office, Adedeji Ademigbuji, claimed that two of the four persons killed were the truck driver and his assistant.
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Ademigbuji said: “WFP can confirm that a convoy escorted by the Nigerian military including WFP hired trucks was the subject of an attack by armed groups 35km southwest of Ngala in Borno State on Saturday (16 December).
“Four people, including the driver of a WFP-hired truck and a driver’s assistant, were killed in the incident. WFP extends its condolences to the bereaved families.
“WFP is working with the authorities to determine the whereabouts of the trucks."
A source who begged to be anonymous however claimed that one of the trucks was burnt by the attackers.
However, the Nigerian Army on Monday, December 18, denied the killings of civilians in an attack coordinated by the Boko Haram insurgents against the World Food Programme (WFP’s) trucks on Saturday.
Maj.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas, the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, gave the clarification in a Short Service Message (SMS) to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri.
Nicholas said that the troops escorting the trucks had killed six insurgents and recovered weapons.
He explained that there were no civilian casualties in the attack, adding that he was at Dikwa when the incident occurred.
“There was an ambush but the soldiers killed six Boko Haram insurgents and recovered weapons. No civilian was killed.
“I was in Dikwa that Saturday and this happened while I was within,” Nicholas said.
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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com earlier reported that the Nigerian army on Friday, December 15, said it captured 167 Boko Haram terrorists in a two-week offensive launched in the Lake Chad region of Borno state.
The army said its troops under the Operation Lafiya Doyle mission also rescued 240 victims - 67 women and 173 men - of terrorism.
The rescued victims would taken to an internally displaced persons camp in the area.
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Source: Naija.ng