ABUJA, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Heavily armed gunmen attacked a humanitarian base of the United Nations (UN) in Nigeria's northeastern town of Ngala was attacked , during which they have destroyed one of its buildings, a UN humanitarian official confirmed on Monday.

The building, which housed UN humanitarian workers and was "the main humanitarian accommodation in Ngala," was attacked on Saturday, said Edward Kallon, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, in a statement.

He strongly condemned the attack on aid workers, humanitarian facilities and assets, saying they cannot be a target and must be protected and respected at all times.

Five UN staffers were staying in the building at the time of the incident, said Kallon, adding it was "a direct target of a complex assault by heavily armed non-state armed groups operatives."

"An entire section of the facility was burned down as well as one of the few vehicles UN agencies rely on for movement and aid delivery," he said, noting, however, the UN workers were now safe and sound.

Before the attack, the UN aid workers had been providing assistance to more than 55,000 people in the town of Ngala, Kallon said. Enditem

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