Boko Haram, ISWAP Planning To Attack Aid Workers In Borno, United Nations Warns

The United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) has issued a new warning.

The UNDSS said Boko Haram and Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) terrorists are planning to abduct humanitarian workers in Borno.

UNDSS in an advisory released on Tuesday said there are reasons to believe that the insurgents have concluded plans to kidnap humanitarian workers in Banki, Bama Local Government Area of the state.

The advisory did not indicate the specific time for the planned abduction but advised the government on the need to protect humanitarian workers in the country.

Banki was one of the communities sacked by Boko Haram insurgents in 2014.

Most residents of the town had fled to take refuge in camps designated for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Maiduguri, the state capital.

“As a mitigation measure, the UNDSS FSA has alerted all Heads of Agencies (HoAs) and Security Focal Persons (SFP)  on the impending threat,” the UN advisory read.

“It also advised them to ensure that staff vulnerability should be avoided and to also reduce the level of exposure of any kind.”

This comes two days after the United States warned its citizens about the possibility of terror attacks in Nigeria.

The US on Sunday warned that there was an elevated risk of terror attacks in Nigeria, especially in Abuja, the nation's capital.

It noted that as a result of that, the US Embassies in the country will offer reduced services in the country until further notice.

The security advisory issued by the US Mission said, "There is an elevated risk of terror attacks in Nigeria, specifically in Abuja. Targets may include but are not limited to, government buildings, places of worship, schools, markets, shopping malls, hotels, bars, restaurants, athletic gatherings, transport terminals, law enforcement facilities, and international organizations. The US Embassy will offer reduced services until further notice."

It advised American citizens to avoid all non-essential travel and movement, among others.

The United Kingdom also warned its citizens in Nigeria to stay alert due to an "increased threat of terrorist attack in Abuja."

"Attacks could be indiscriminate and could affect western interests, as well as places visited by tourists," it said.

Since the death of JAS leader, Abubakar Shekau, ISWAP has been consolidating its grip in locations around Lake Chad.

The sect’s membership has swollen with the defection of hundreds of Boko Haram fighters under Shekau.

Terrorists have caused the death of thousands of people and the displacement of millions of others mainly in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states.