The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, has condemned the killing of a Red Cross aid worker, Ahmed Khorsa, by the Boko Haram sect in Nigeria.
Khorsa, 25 years old, was kidnapped in March along with two other health workers after an attack on a military facility in the town of Rann in Kala Balge area that left at least four soldiers and police officers dead.
A statement from the Information Office of the UN Humanitarian Coordinator quotes Kallon, as saying that, “The killing of Ms Khosa, a young, dedicated and passionate midwife and humanitarian, is a cowardly, heinous and despicable act.
While he sent condolences of the UN to the family of the deceased, including her two young children, and friends, Kallon however, called on the authorities to ensure the perpetrators were brought to justice. He also called for the immediate release of the two aid workers who are still being held.
“This incident demonstrates the severe challenges that Nigeria continues to face, but will not deter the international community from providing aid to millions of Nigerians caught up in the conflict in the north-east. The United Nations stands in solidarity with the humanitarian community,” added Kallon.
The humanitarian community is currently providing life-saving assistance, including food, safe water and medicine, to over 60,000 internally displaced people in the camp in Rann, and millions more across the north-east.
Some 3,000 aid workers are present in the north-east, the majority of whom are Nigerian nationals.
