ECOSOC United Nations Economic and Social Counci : Condemning ‘Depraved Act’ at Hands of Boko Haram Terrorists, Secretary-General Says Situation in Nigeria Top Priority

The following statement was issued by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today:

The Secretary-General is appalled about reports of hundreds of civilians killed around the town of Baga, Borno State, near Nigeria's border with Chad in the past week.

The situation in Nigeria and the region remains at the top of the Secretary-General's agenda.  Only yesterday, it is reported that a 10-year old girl was used to detonate a bomb at a market in Maiduguri, also in Borno State, killing at least 19 people.  The Secretary-General utterly condemns this depraved act at the hands of Boko Haram terrorists.

The United Nations stands ready to assist the Nigerian Government and all affected neighbouring States in bringing an end to the violence and to alleviate the suffering of civilians with all available means and resources.