Borno Gov Suspends French NGO Over Alleged Firearm Training

Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum, has directed the immediate suspension of the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development,(ACTED). The French humanitarian non governmental organisation was suspended following a discovery on Saturday that it was using a hotel in Maiduguri for training some aid workers on shooting. Zulum’s spokesman, Mallam Gusau said the French NGO was found using toy guns and simulators in training exercises at a hotel located off the Circular Road in Maiduguri, the state capital. Gusau explained that residents near the hotel had reported to officials that they were hearing gunshot sounds from the hotel, following which government officials reported the matter to the GRA Divisional Police Headquarters, which oversees the hotel’s location. The police found some toy pistols at the hotel, while two trainers, both Nigerians, were arrested. However, two ACTED workers arrested by the police during interrogation said they were using the toys guns to rehearse for a drama in which they were to act as Civilian Joint Task Force members.