The Nigerian Defence Headquarters has clarified the presence of United Nations (UN) fighting vehicles in Edo State.
According to the military, the UN Peacekeeping fighting vehicles and equipment sighted recently in Benin, Edo State, were meant for deployment for a peacekeeping mission in South Sudan.
Tukur Gusau, the Acting Director, Defence Information, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
Gusau explained that the circulation of the video of the said equipment on social media, has given rise to insinuations that were inimical to public peace which might cause panic.
He said Nigeria is currently contributing troops to various UN Peacekeeping operations; the most recent is United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), Southern Sudan.
Gusau said, “The Mission is commanded by a Nigerian, Maj. Gen. Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr.
“It should be noted that the UN doesn’t have its own troops, rather it enters into agreements 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.
“The Defence Headquarters under the leadership of Gen. Lucky Irabor, wish to assure Nigerians that our nation is not under any threat that will warrant the deployment of UN troops on our soil”, he said.
Reports have it that a video clip titled, “tension as heavy military UN trucks arrive Nigeria”, surfaced on one BVI Youtube channel last Sunday.
The commentator was seen raising the alarm that something was cooking in the country that the government was not telling the citizens.
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