Military chiefs meet UN humanitarian group over killing of aid worker by soldier

Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force ‘Operation Hadin Kai,’ Major General Christopher Musa has met with representatives of the humanitarian group providing support services in the North East region of the country over the killing of an aid worker by a Nigerian soldier, last Thursday.

It would be recalled that, last Thursday, November 17,  a soldier attached to a Joint Task Force’s Operation Hadin Kai, at a military base in Damboa local government area of Borno State, had shot and killed a civilian staff of one of the aid workers providing humanitarian support in the North East.

The errant soldier had also shot dead a colleague, and injured a pilot of one of the United Nations helicopters before being killed by other soldiers on ground.

At the meeting held at the Command Guest House Maiduguri, the Theatre Commander, General Musa also expressed condolences to the Head, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Nigeria (OCHA), Mr Trond Jenson and his team over the loss of one of their staff who was shot by a soldier and for the injury sustained by the co-pilot.

Major General Musa also relayed condolence messages from the Chief of Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs after which a minute’s silence was observed in honour of the deceased.

The Theatre Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force assured the officials that the Military Police has commenced an investigation to unravel the circumstances with the promise that they would be carried along throughout the process.

He equally requested the team to extend the condolence message to the family of the deceased.

The team leader who appreciated the troops on ground for their prompt response and immediate medical attention offered to the co-pilot including the recovery of the corpses to Maiduguri for further necessary action also commended the Theatre for reaching out to them as soon as the incident occurred and disclosed that the co-pilot involved in the incident is rapidly responding to treatment at the hospital.

The two parties agreed that the sad incident would not affect the cooperation, support and harmonious relationship existing between them and the Theatre.

Earlier, Friday, the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum had condoled with the family of the slain female humanitarian worker, which he described as ‘shocking.’

In a letter addressed to the United Nations, through its Resident Representative in Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, Friday, and titled; ‘Condolence and Solidarity,’ Governor Zulum said he was ‘shocked and deeply saddened’ over the incident of last Thursday which witnessed a soldier of the Nigerian Army open fire at a colleague and a civilian aid worker, killing both, as well as shooting and injuring a co-pilot of a UN helicopter, before being shot dead by other soldiers at the scene.

The slain UN aid worker has been identified as Mrs Alem Muluseta.

“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’s letter read.