The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has released five local aid workers abducted last month in Borno State.
The aid workers were seized along with other passengers in two separate incidents in December when ISWAP fighters disguised as soldiers intercepted their vehicles.
The aid workers were kidnapped on December 22 on their way to Maiduguri for Christmas from Monguno.
A security source told AFP on Thursday that the aid workers were freed on Wednesday “after days of mediated negotiations.”
One of the freed hostages, Asabe Musa, a hygiene specialist with ALIMA (Alliance for International Medical Action), a French Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), said: “We were released by our captors today (Wednesday). Two of us are from ALIMA, one each from Red Cross, Solidarity and IOM (International Office for Migration).
“We were first taken to the DSS headquarters before we were handed over to our various agencies.”
The security source also said the negotiations for the release were initiated by the Department of State Services (DSS).
It was not clear whether ransom was paid for the aid workers’ release.
The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, said he was “deeply relieved” at the news of the release.
“I also remain gravely concerned for the lives of our (Action Contre la Faim) colleague Grace Taku, abducted near Damasak in July 2019, and Alice Loksha, a nurse and a mother, abducted during an attack in Rann in March 2018. Both are still held captive by non-state armed groups,” he said.
