The Federal Government has expressed shock and sadness over the killing of another aid worker with the International Committee of the Red Cross, by Boko Haram on Monday.
The Federal Government in a statement issued in London on Monday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described the killing as dastardly, inhuman and ungodly, despite the actions taken by the government and the widespread appeal to save the young woman.
Mohammed said nothing can justify the shedding of the blood of innocent people.
He commiserated with the family of the aid worker, and said the Federal Government did all within its powers to save her life.
”It is very unfortunate that it has come to this. Before and after the deadline issued by her abductors, the Federal Government did everything any responsible government should do to save the aid worker.
”As we have been doing since these young women were abducted, we kept the line of negotiations open all through. In all the negotiations, we acted in the best interest of the women and the country as a whole.
”We are deeply pained by this killing, just like we were by the recent killing of the first aid worker. However, we will keep the negotiations open and continue to work to free the innocent women who remain in the custody of their abductors,” the Minister said.
He thanked all the friendly governments that have continued to work with Nigeria for the safe release of the abducted women, and the clerics across religious lines who have been pleading for their release.
The news broke out on Monday that a faction of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province, had executed Lima, an aid worker with the International Committee of the Red Cross.
A source close to the insurgents was reportedly quoted as saying they murdered Liman following the failure of the government to negotiate the release of the deceased and her colleague, Alice Loksha.
It said that the terrorists also promised to keep the Dapchi schoolgirl, Leah Sharibu, as ‘a slave for life.’
It will be recalled that the insurgents had, in September, killed a nurse with the ICRC, Saifura Khorsa, who was abducted alongside Liman and Loksha in Rann, Borno State on March 1.
Khorsa was shot in the back and a video of the gruesome murder was posted online by the insurgents who further threatened to kill another ICRC worker if the government failed to negotiate their freedom.
Reacting to this development, the ICRC, on Sunday, expressed anxiety over the deadline issued by the sect and appealed to the Federal Government and influential Nigerians to assist with the release of the workers.
ICRC also noted that the deadline could result in the execution of Liman and Loksha, and begged Boko Haram to spare their lives.
and then