The Defence Headquarters in Nigeria has dispelled rumours going around through some social media video clips alleging the presence of some United Nations Peacekeeping fighting vehicles and equipment sighted recently in Benin, Edo state.
A statement by the Acting Defence Spokesman, Brig General Tukur Gusau, says the rumour has resulted to insinuations which are inimical to public peace and may even cause panic.
“The Defence Headquarters hereby state that presently, Nigeria is contributing troops to various United Nations Peace keeping operations, the most recent is United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), Southern Sudan”.
According to the statement, the Mission is commanded by a Nigerian, Major General Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr and It should be noted that the UN doesn’t have its own troops, rather it enter into agreement with troops contributing countries to provide their personnel and equipment for operations in its various missions.
“Therefore, it is imperative to state emphatically that the military fighting vehicles and equipment painted in UN colour as sighted are being moved through the Warri port for movement to the mission area in Southern Sudan to marry up with our troops who were inducted into UNISFA mission last month”, the statement added.
It says the Defence Headquarters under the leadership of General Lucky Irabor wishes to assure Nigerians that Nigeria is not under any threat that will warrant the deployment of United Nations troops in the country.
