Nigeria bans international NGO for ‘feeding Boko Haram, Islamic State’

Nigeria’s army has banned the activities of a humanitarian agency, Action Against Hunger, after accusing it of aiding and abetting terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State.

A statement on Thursday by Colonel Ado Isa, the deputy director of army public relations, said the activities of the non-governmental organization (NGO) was “in contrary to the counter-insurgency war being carried on in the region by the Nigerian military”, reports the Vanguard.

“The subversive and actions  of the NGO Action Against Hunger (AAH) persisted despite  several warnings to desist from aiding and abetting terrorists and their atrocities.

“The TC – OPLD has on many occasions raised alarm over this unwholesome practices of some NGOs and expressed same position during meetings with the NGOs operating in the NE [North East] Theater of Operation.

“Consequently, the AAH has been declared persona non grata for aiding Boko Haram Terrorists/Islamic State West Africa by supplying them food and drugs despite warning from the TC – OPLD,” the statement read.

“The Command has obtained several credible intelligence indicating AAH as one of those NGOs operating in the NE that is notorious in supplying food and drugs to the criminals in the area,” the statement added.

Action Against Hunger has so far denied the accusations and has pleaded with authorities to allow it to continue with its work of providing food, water and healthcare to conflict-ridden areas.

“This decision, without notice and without any explanation, jeopardizes the assistance Action Against Hunger provides to the most vulnerable people in Borno State and halts, with immediate effect, the assistance Action Against Hunger provides to millions of people in Maiduguri, Monguno, and Damasak,” the group said in a statement.

Boko Haram is an Islamist group which does not want to have anything to do with western culture, particularly, western education.

The group has so far killed more than 20,000 people and other two million people have been forced to flee their homes in an insurgency that started in 2009 aimed at creating an Islamic state.

According to the United Nations, 7.1 million people still need humanitarian assistance in the region.

NGOs have, over the years, been helping the Nigerian government to provide relief for those who have been forced out of their homes.

In 2018, the military accused the UN’s children’s agency, Unicef, of spying for the militants.

It subsequently banned the organization but lifted the ban hours later.