Boko Haram: How US, UN pressure forced army to rescind UNICEF ban

There were indications last night that high- level diplomacy by the United States and the United Nations with the Presidency led to the restoration of United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) activities in the Northeast.

The US intervention was said to have averted a diplomatic face-off between Nigeria and the UN.

The UN has however directed the UNICEF office in the country not to react to the decision of the Nigerian Army.

But it was gathered that security agencies will now strictly monitor the activities of more than 50 Non-Governmental Organizations in the zone.

The Theatre Command, Operation Lafiya Dole of the Nigerian Army on Friday announced the suspension of UNICEF activities by accusing UNICEF of allegedly “sabotaging counter-terrorism efforts.”

It accused UNICEF and some NGOs of playing the terrorists’ script.

Although there was no formal warning, the Theatre Command was said to have acted on some intelligence.

UNICEF however found the allegation spurious because it has stuck to its mandate.

According to findings by our correspondent, the suspension of UNICEF created a diplomatic jolt and the United States had to wade in.

A top source said: “Following the announcement of the suspension, Washington and the UN waded in the spat and opened up talks with the presidency.

“The need to avoid a diplomatic face-off led to the lifting of the suspension by the Nigerian Army barely some hours after.

“We are hopeful that the Army will make its observations available to the US, UN and other parties in order not to jeopardize the activities of UNICEF in the Northeast.

“The truth is that about 80-90 per cent of UNICEF resources are deployed in the Northern part because of insurgency and other health challenges affecting children.

“We are hopeful of amicable resolution of all issues.”

A military source, however, said: “The Theatre Command has been having issues with UNICEF since April this year. In fact, three staff of UNICEF, namely Priscilla Hoveyda, Maher Farea and Milen Kidane were declared persona non grata by the Nigerian Army over false allegations on troops of Operation Lafiya Dole.

“Some UNICEF staff alleged that the Nigerian Army was using children below 18 years to fight Boko Haram in the Northeast when the guidelines for recruitment of troops are clearly spelt out.

A top UNICEF staff, who spoke in confidence, said: “We have been directed by the UN not to speak on this issue. If is being handled at a diplomatic level.”

This is coming as the Nigerian Army has lifted the suspension of UNICEF’s operations in the region. This came less than 24 hrs after the international organisation’s activities were suspended in the area.

A statement by Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, Deputy Director, Public Relations Theatre Command yesterday said the decision followed high level meetings with stakeholders and commitment on the part of UNICEF, just as the army warned them to desist from activities that will be detrimental to military operations in the theatre.