As Boko Haram, the deadly terrorists group continues to hold Nigerians captive in their fatherland in the face of the seeming helplessness of the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan-led Government, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who will not take this challenge lying down has been unsparing in his condemnation of this morning’s attack on the United Nations building in Abuja, in which a number of people have been killed or wounded, and said he would dispatch top officials to the Nigerian capital to respond to the emergency.
Vigilance learnt that the compound in Abuja, a series of buildings that house the offices of 26 UN humanitarian and development agencies, was struck by a car bomb at around 11 a.m. local time.
“This was an assault on those who devote their lives to helping others,” Mr. Ban told reporters at UN Headquarters in New York. “We condemn this terrible act, utterly.”
As at press time, the casualty figure is yet to be known, but Mr. Ban said that “they are likely to be considerable. Secretary- General Ki-moon added that a number of people are dead and many more are wounded.
Sending his condolences to all involved and their families, Ki-moon said: “On this very sad occasion, I extend my deepest sympathies to the victims and their families. The UN will undertake every possible effort to assist them during this difficult time.”
Meanwhile, it is said the Nigerian and international search and rescue teams have mobilized and are moving the wounded to hospitals and providing emergency aid.
Vigilance learnt reliably that Mr. Ban is dispatching Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro to Nigeria immediately and mobilizing the UN system to respond to the emergency. She will be accompanied by the UN security chief, Gregory Starr, and meet with Nigerian authorities on arrival in Abuja.
Moving swiftly to get to know the reasons behind this ferocious and deadly attack on the UN officials the Secretary-General disclosed that he would also call the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, soon to discuss it.
The Security Council observed a minute's silence before the start of a meeting today on UN peacekeeping operations.