Gov Zulum condemns killing of aid workers in Borno

Gov. Babagana Zulum has expressed shock and sadness over the killing in Borno of five aid workers by Boko Haram insurgents.

DAILY POST reported that the aid workers were kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists on June 20th and were executed on Wednesday.

The armed group had while executing the humanitarian workers, said they executed them because the days given for ransom had been exhausted.

Reacting, Zulum, in a statement by his Special Assistant, Malam Isa Gusau said he is deeply pained.

He described the aid workers as “heroes who were serving humanity.”

The governor said he was informed of the execution on Wednesday evening, while visiting the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Headquarters in Abuja to discuss introduction of civil-defence volunteer programme and the deployment of more agro rangers to secure farmers in Borno.

“The insurgents released a video which showed five blindfolded aid workers with four of them shot at close range, while one was spared even though he was also positioned for execution.

“The five aid workers were abducted weeks back during a humanitarian mission to support internally displaced persons (IDPs).

“Gov. Zulum is deeply pained and extremely worried by the gruesome execution of the aid workers who lost their lives while trying to save IDPs through humanitarian activities.

“The Governor mourns these heroes and shares the grief of their families and employers: Borno Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Action Against Hunger, Reach International, International Rescue Committee, and condoles with the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, (UNOCHA)”, he said.

Zulum also directed a Government delegation to immediately visit families of the aid workers to participate in funeral activities and to pay condolence visits to affected humanitarian partners through UNOCHA.

“Gov. Zulum wants a new thinking that would hopefully stop these endless killings. We cannot continue to do the same thing over and over and expect a different result.

“The governor believes in a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic approaches and he is of the position that the Nigerian military has, through its operation ‘safe corridor’, demonstrated its willingness to rehabilitate and reintegrate insurgents willing to stop the killings of fellow humans,” he said.

The Governor reiterated his call on the insurgents to stop the killings that have been on for 11 years.