The International Committee of the Red Cross has appealed to the Nigerian Government to help secure the release of two health workers abducted by Boko haram as the deadline set by the terrorist group for the execution of the abducted workers gets nearer.
The Red Cross made the appeal after one of the health workers originally kidnapped by Boko Haram was executed by the terrorists.
Before she was executed Saifura Khorsa one of the kidnapped red cross aid workers, was recorded by Boko haram begging the Nigerian government to come to her rescue.
The Red Cross issued a statement appealing to the Nigerian government as well influential individuals in the society to help secure the release of its remaining aid workers in Boko haram captivity.
“A deadline that could result in the killing of another health care worker is less than 24 hours away; speed and urgency are critical,” the ICRC said.
The three female health workers were kidnapped on March 1, in the remote town of Rann in Borno State following an attack by IS-affiliated Boko Haram faction on an IDP camp.
Three health workers were killed alongside eight Nigerian soldiers in the attack.
Two of the kidnapped women, Hauwa Liman and Saifura Khorsa, worked for the Geneva-based humanitarian charity while the third, Alice Loksha, worked for the UN children’s organisation UNICEF.
There was no news of the kidnapped aid workers until last month when an audio message was released by Boko haram where one of the kidnapped women begged for rescue.
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A week later, footage of her execution was sent to the ICRC where the group affiliated to the Islamic State threatened to kill the other two health workers if their demands were not met.
While the Red Cross called on Boko haram to show “mercy” and not to kill two health workers who were “doing nothing but helping the communities in northeast Nigeria”.
It asked everyone involved with the case to avoid a repeat of “that devastating outcome,” according to Mamadou Sow, ICRC’s head of operations in the Lake Chad region.
The Red Cross also called for the release of 15-year old Leah Sharibu who was among over 100 schoolgirls abducted by the Islamist group from a boarding school in Dapchi in February.
While her colleagues were released weeks after the abduction, Sharibu the only Christian among them was held back for refusing to convert Islam.
“Leah Sharibu…is also being held by the same armed group and everything must be done to ensure she too is released promptly and unharmed. We urge you: spare and release these women…like all those abducted, they are not part of any fight,” said Patricia Danzi, ICRC’s Africa director of operations.