INGOs Condemn Attack on Borno Community, Assess Level of Destruction

The International Non-governmental Organisations (INGOs) community in Nigeria on Wednesday said the full scale infiltration and destruction of Dikwa in Borno State by Boko Haram members were still being assessed. It was reported that many facilities belonging to humanitarian organisations, government and private individuals were destroyed with many persons abducted by the terrorist group in a siege of over 12 hours on the Borno town. The military, however, came out to state that the attempt to infiltrate the town was repelled by the Nigerian troops. A statement issued by the INGOs yesterday, which condemned the attack, lamented that: “In the more than a decade-long armed conflict in the North-east Nigeria, civilians have continued to suffer from its devastating consequences, paying the price for the blatant violations of international law that provides for their protection.” Last Tuesday’s attack, it said: “The Dikwa hospital was set on fire in violation of international humanitarian law provisions for the protection of civilian infrastructure. This raises additional concerns about the full scale of the impact of the attack on civilians, which is still being assessed. With serious concern, the attack also directly targeted humanitarian facilities.” It decried that: “Today, more than 8.7 million people require humanitarian assistance in North-east region, and humanitarian actors work around the clock in a highly insecure environment to provide life-saving assistance. “The Nigeria INGO Forum is horrified and saddened that these attacks would cut off a very vulnerable population from the much-needed life-saving support provided by aid workers. OCHA estimates that 100,000 people were receiving humanitarian assistance in Dikwa alone. It is regrettable and unacceptable that aid workers offering these life-saving assistances are also increasingly becoming direct targets. “The Nigeria INGO Forum and its 54 members strongly urge all parties to the conflict to abide by their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and to take all appropriate measures to ensure the protection of civilians, civilian infrastructure, and aid workers. We also call for unhindered access of humanitarian actors to all the people in need of assistance, as per international humanitarian law obligations-humanitarian workers are not a target.” The statement added that: “We are saddened by the loss of lives, the repeated displacement of population, and the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure and critical aid facilities. “The Nigeria INGO Forum expresses its condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wishes fast recovery to those who were injured.” It said: “On March 1 and 2, Boko Haram attacked the town of Dikwa. During the attack, at least six civilians lost their lives in crossfire, several others were injured and are still missing, and thousands of people tried to flee the town in the aftermaths of the attack.”