Boko Haram could exploit COVID-19 pandemic to launch attacks, UN warns Nigeria

Boko Haram insurgents could exploit the COVID-19 pandemic to carry out attacks in parts of Nigeria, the United Nations has warned.

The United Nations Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS), in a newly released security threat information and advisory, however, said the attacks could be prevented if adequate measures are in place.

According to UNDSS, intelligence shows such attacks could be coordinated in areas the group operate in with the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) targeting critical national infrastructure and that the
group may seek to distract military activities in the north-east and gain wider acceptance.

“It is assessed that we are at the beginning of the security crisis characterised by a wide spectrum of interconnected crisis (civil unrest, crime and the increasing threat of terrorism), that were fuming for quite some time and now released by COVID-19 impact on the government and population.”

“In this context, the critical infrastructure are considered any of economic or security entities and their premises (petrol industry installations, banks, governmental facilities, shopping malls, hotels, etc), at any location in the country, especially state capitals, including Lagos and Abuja.

“Though the UN in Nigeria is not the primary target for the terrorist activity, it is assessed that the UN can be impacted as collaterally (while visiting governmental installations, banks, shopping malls, e.t.c.), but also as the target of opportunity, if seen to be less protected (‘soft target’).”

To forestall the attacks, the UNDSS recommended that security risk management measures in Nigeria must be urgently reviewed and fully implemented.