ABUJA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian army on Thursday accused humanitarian organizations in the troubled northeast region of aiding terror group Boko Haram and warned against the act.
In a statement, army spokesman Sagir Musa declined to give the names of suspected humanitarian organizations giving aids, such as food items, to the terrorists.
He, however, confirmed that a top Boko Haram militant had been arrested while receiving food items from a humanitarian organization based in the northeast region where there's an intensive fight against terrorists.
The Boko Haram fighter identified as Muhammed Modu was arrested by troops on May 26, according to the army spokesman.
"Preliminary investigations have revealed that a faction of Boko Haram has been receiving so-called humanitarian support of food and drugs supplies from some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in the northeast theater," the army official said.
He described the development as "a security breach," urging humanitarian agencies in that act to desist from compromising Nigeria's national security and war efforts against terrorism.
The army said it would not hesitate to sanction any such recalcitrant organization while calling on them to operate in accordance with the extant rules and regulations guiding the operations of humanitarian aid workers, and in line with the guidelines and procedures of International Humanitarian Laws as well as the Laws of Armed Conflict.
