President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday condemned the killing of an aid worker who was kidnapped about six months ago in Rann, Borno State, by Boko Haram terrorist group.

The aid worker, Saifura Hussaini Ahmed Khorsa, was said to have been kidnapped at the Rann camp for internally displaced persons.

A statement by Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu, said the President also condemned the terrorists’ threat to harm others, including the lone Dapchi school girl, Leah Sharibu still in their custody.

The statement said, “The government of Nigeria strongly condemns this reprehensible and inhuman act. No religion permits the killing of the innocent.

“Saifura worked for the Red Cross, a humanitarian organization tirelessly working to bring succour to all the victims of violence irrespective of the sides of the conflict.”

The President also appealed to Nigeria’s international partners and everyone with an influence on the terrorists to prevail on them “to stop these acts of extreme barbarism.”

He assured that his administration would seize every given opportunity, with both hands and to use all means available to bring home all citizens held against their will by the Boko Haram terrorists.

“On behalf of his family, the government and people of Nigeria, President Buhari extended condolences to the family of Saifura, the Red Cross and UNICEF over the loss of this selfless and hardworking mother,” the statement added.

Killing of health worker cowardly, heinous –ICRC

The International Committee of the Red Cross has condemned the “tragic killing” of a health worker, Saifura Hussaini Ahmed Khorsa, by Boko Haram terrorists.

This was contained in a statement released by the humanitarian agency in Abuja on Monday

“We are devastated by the murder of our colleague Saifura,” said Eloi Fillion, the head of the ICRC delegation in Abuja.

No details were given about the circumstances of her death but the ICRC called on the Islamists to release another midwife and nurse still being held.

“There is no ideology or religious law that could justify doing any harm to them,” said Fillion.

The UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, said, “The killing of Ms. Hussaini, a young, dedicated and passionate midwife and humanitarian, is a cowardly, heinous and despicable act”.

“This incident demonstrates the severe challenges that Nigeria continues to face,” he added.

Khorsa, was abducted in Rann, Borno State, on March 1, during an attack by the terrorists

The announcements by the ICRC and the UN are the first public news about the women since they were kidnapped.

Rann is a remote town on the border with Cameroon where more than 60,000 people who have fled from Boko Haram jihadists depend on emergency food aid and medical care to survive.

The Islamist group has intensified attacks in recent months, with the violence spilling over into neighbouring Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

The jihadists have increasingly turned to kidnapping for ransom as a way to finance their operations and win back key commanders in prisoner swaps with the Nigerian government.

AFP, PUNCH