Yemisi Izuora
The United Nations, UN, has condemned the killing of four aid workers by a Boko Haram splinter group; the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) in North-East Nigeria.
The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon said the international community was saddened by the killing of the aid workers. The workers were abducted by the terrorists in July on their way to Damask in Borno State to provide humanitarian support to victims of Boko Haram violence.
Equally important, Kallon noted that the incident could jeopardize access to humanitarian support in the region.
“I am deeply saddened and outraged by the news of the tragic killing of four aid workers who were held captive by the armed group for almost five months,” said Kallon in a statement.
Further, the UN Coordinator joined his voice in demanding the immediate release of the remaining female detainee.
“I plead for the immediate release of Grace Taku, the only woman who was in the team; and whose whereabouts remain unknown,” he said.
Meanwhile, the four men were among six humanitarian workers, including a driver and a woman; kidnapped by the terror group on July 26 in Damasak near the Lake Chad region in Borno State.
One of the aid workers was reportedly executed in late September. On Friday, news broke that four men among the sex abducted in July had been executed. Equally important, the only female amongst them, Grace Taku was condemned to slavery for life.
The terror group blamed the Federal Government, which it accused of insincerity, for the development. It had been involved in talks with the Nigerian government which broke down recently.
The decade-long Boko Haram insurgency has killed 35,000 people and displaced more than two million in North East Nigeria.
