By Olukayode Michael, Maiduguri
The military has gone ahead with its early threat to close down offices of any non-governmental organisation found to be involved with the terrorist group, Boko Haram with the clampdown on offices of Mercy Corps in the Northeast.
The military during the closure of the office of Action Against Hunger (AAH) last week had warned other local and international non governmental organisations that it would hit the hammer on any other organisation found culpable.
Sources within the humanitarian community in the Northeast told our correspondent that the military moved for another NGO when a driver conveying smoked fish with hidden money amounting to over N20 million told the military that the good were from Mercy Corps.
The source said it is normal practice for NGOs to rely on private transporters to convey their humanitarian materials and the drivers of many of the trucks always to be passed unchecked even when they are not carrying goods for any of the NGOs dropping their names.
He said the driver had thought he would have been allowed to go through the military checkpoint dropping the name of Mercy Corps but was wrong as he was checked and large sum of money was found hidden among the smoked fish he was transporting.
He however lamented that instead of the military doing a proper investigation went on to close down Mercy Corps offices in Gwoza, Damboa, Maiduguri and Damaturu.
The action of the military Maude Mercy Corps on Wednesday to suspend its operations in two of the northeastern Nigerian states worst hit by Islamist insurgents after the army closed four of its offices in the region.
Meanwhile Action Against Hunger said it strongly reject the accusation of “aiding and abetting” a terrorist organisation laid against it by the military.
It said in a statement that it is however working productively with the Nigerian authorities to try and resolve the situation.
It said: “Action Against Hunger stands ready to support any investigation, and will work tirelessly with the Nigerian authorities to allay any concerns they may have about our operations in the region.
“Action Against Hunger delivers neutral, impartial, and independent humanitarian aid to millions of people in Borno and Yobe States by providing basic services to the most vulnerable people, especially women and children.
“We do not have more comments at this stage,” the organisation said.
An attempt to contact the military on their reason for closing the offices of Mercy Corps in Borno and Yobe states was unsuccessful as the spokesman of the Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Ado Isa did not pick his call neither respond to test message sent to his mobile.