The United Nations (UN) has condemned the killing of an aid worker by a Nigerian soldier in Dambora, Borno State, northeast Nigeria.
The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, described the situation as deeply disturbing and sad, and called for adequate protection for aid workers in the country’s northeast.
He said, ‘The killing of a staff member of the humanitarian non-governmental organisation, Médecins du Monde, in Damboa, Borno, is deeply disturbing and sad.
‘On behalf of the UN, I convey my heartfelt condolences to the aid worker’s family and to her colleagues.
‘I also wish a speedy recovery to a pilot working with the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) who was injured in the deplorable attack by an apparently rogue soldier’.
He said all humanitarian staff working in the northeast deserve huge respect for their courage and commitment to stay and deliver life-saving assistance to people in need in often difficult and dangerous circumstances.
‘Humanitarian workers must be protected’.
‘I laud the government and the military’s efforts to speedily investigate yesterday’s incident and urge them to strengthen remedial measures to prevent similar incidents in the future’, he added.
For its part, the International NGO community (INGO) has said it is saddened by the death of the aid worker.
The head of media and communications, Nigeria INGO Forum (NIF), Ademilola Adesanya urged the government on a timely investigation of the incident and for them to take necessary actions.
The Nigerian army on Thursday announced the killing of an aid worker by an unnamed soldier.
The soldier also murdered another soldier and injured the co-pilot of one of the UN helicopters before troops killed him.
According to Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Farouq, at the World Humanitarian Day 2022, 35 aid workers have been killed, 22 wounded and 28 kidnapped since 2016.
She said at least six of those kidnapped were kidnapped in 2022.
Photo source: Nigerian Army
