A Nigerian soldier has shot and wounded a United Nations helicopter co-pilot then killed a humanitarian worker and a fellow soldier at a military base in northeastern Nigeria.
The injured co-pilot is on attachment from the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) in the northeast, where the military is battling armed groups such as Boko Haram and its offshoots including the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
UNHAS provides transport to humanitarian workers who travel to and from Maiduguri city, the capital of Borno state, which is the epicentre of the conflict.
The soldier was said to have approached a UNHAS helicopter inside a military base in Damboa and opened fire on the co-pilot as he tried to escape. He then turned and fired at some humanitarian workers who wanted to board the helicopter.
The UNHAS said it had cancelled all helicopter missions to and from the field until further notice
It was not immediately clear what prompted the attack.
Samson Nantip Zhakom, the Army spokesman for the counterinsurgency operation, said the unnamed soldier went on to shoot and kill a worker from one of the organisations providing humanitarian support in the region, before turning on a fellow soldier.
“Own troops on the ground immediately neutralised the errant personnel,” said Zhakom, adding that the injured co-pilot had been stabilised at a hospital.
In a statement released, the armed said, “the Theatre Command Operation HADIN KAI regrets to inform the public of a sad occurrence at one of our military bases today. A soldier shot and killed a staff of one of the NGOs providing humanitarian support in the North East. The same soldier also killed another soldier and injured the co-pilot of one of the UN helicopters,” he said in a statement.
“Own troops on the ground immediately neutralized the errant personnel. The injured co-pilot has been stabilized while the corpses of the deceased have been moved to the 7 Division Hospital. A detailed investigation into the incident and subsequent remedial actions have commenced into the highly regrettable incident. Further details will be provided later”.
The soldier was identified as a special force (SF) who lost tempers and went after the crew members of the aircraft shortly after landing with some humanitarian workers in Damboa, first shot and injured the pilot who attempted to escape from the scene.
He thereafter turned to the humanitarian workers and fired at them. The soldier reportedly stabbed the deceased aid worker severally with a knife until she gave up the ghost.
In a statement, the UN Coordinator for Nigeria Matthias Schmale described the incident as “disturbing and sad”, saying the humanitarian is a staff of Médecins du Monde working in the community.
“Yesterday’s killing of a staff member of the humanitarian non-governmental organization Médecins du Monde in Damboa, Borno State is deeply disturbing and sad. On behalf of the United Nations, I convey my heartfelt condolences
to the aid worker’s family and to her colleagues. I also wish a speedy recovery to a pilot working with the UN
“Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) who was injured in the deplorable attack by an apparently rogue soldier. All humanitarian staff working in north-east Nigeria deserve our fullest respect for their courage and commitment to stay and deliver life-saving assistance to people in need in often difficult and dangerous circumstances. Humanitarian workers must be protected.
“I laud the Government and the military’s efforts to speedily investigate yesterday’s incident and urge them to strengthen remedial measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.”
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has written a condolence letter to the United Nations following the killing.
Zulum addressed the letter to the UN’s resident representative in Nigeria, Matthias Schmale. The letter, titled “condolence and solidarity” was dated Friday, November 18, 2022.
The letter reads: “I am shocked and deeply saddened by the incident that happened in Damboa yesterday (Thursday). My condolence goes to the family of Mrs Alem Muluseta, her colleagues at Medicine de Monde (DM), the whole Humanitarian Community and the United Nations, who continually make huge sacrifices to support our people”.
“My condolence also goes to the families of gallant soldiers who lost their lives in trying to restrain the perpetrator.”
“This was a sad isolated incidence, the like of which we have not seen before, and which may not be unconnected with the mental health of the soldier involved”
“The injured pilot has been adequately attended to and he is recovering well. We will do all we can to continue to support him to get what he needs until he recovers”.
“I want to assure our partners and the general public that this is an isolated incidence and the military is investigating what happened.”
“We remain confident that our Military and other security agencies are committed to ensure peace and security of lives and property in Borno state.”
“We will continue to work together with the Military, and our partners to support Mental Health Programs in the Theatre” Zulum said.
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