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‘I Don’t Want to be Killed’ — Abducted Aid Worker Begs CAN, FG From Captivity

On 26 May, (foreground) children, led by teacher Yafati Sanda (at blackboard), recite numbers during a class in an informal learning centre in a UNICEF-supported safe space for children in the Dalori camp for internally displaced people, in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri in Borno State. Ms. Sanda, who manages the space, was the principal at the Government Secondary School in Bama until the town was attacked by Boko Haram insurgents. Another teacher is behind Ms. Sanda, who is holding a folder with the UNICEF logo, and several other classes are also taking place in the space. At end May 2015 in Nigeria, 15.5 million people, including 7.3 million children, are affected by the continuing crisis in the country’s north-eastern region. More than 1.3 million Nigerians in the three states affected – Adamawa, Yobe and Borno – have fled their homes as a result of violence and attacks by Boko Haram insurgents that have escalated since the beginning of 2015. Many of the displaced, most of whom are children and women, are sheltering in host communities that have limited resources, and in formal and informal camps. All are in urgent need of basic supplies, health and nutrition services, and critical water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) support to prevent the spread of disease. An estimated 200,000 people have also fled to neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and the Niger, further straining already vulnerable communities. The impact of the crisis on children and women is of particular concern. Many of them have lost their homes and belongings – escaping with only the clothing they were wearing; and some have walked for days – or even weeks – to find refuge. Many children in the region have been traumatized and are in need of psychosocial support. They have witnessed violence and atrocities, including seeing parents and siblings slaughtered by Boko Haram insurgents; and have been exposed to or have experienced violence and brutality. Their homes have been burned and the

One of the workers of Action Against Hunger, a non-governmental organisation in Borno state, has spoken from captivity.

Insurgents suspected to be members of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) had attacked a convoy of aid workers in Damasak, Borno state, last week, killing a driver before kidnapping six aid workers.

In a video obtained by TheCable, one of the victims simply identified as Grace, appealed to the federal government, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the international community to come to her rescue.

Citing the instances of Hawa Liman and some aid workers who were killed in captivity, Grace, who wore a blue hijab in the video, sought intervention.

The other captives were also seen.

“My name is Grace. I work with Action Against Hunger, an NGO in Borno state. My base is Damasak. We went to work on Thursday, July 18, 2019, and on our way back to Damasak, we were caught by the army of Calipher,” she said.

“We went to work on Thursday, 18th of July 2019. On our way back to Damasak, we were caught by this army called the Calipha, they brought us here and we actually don’t know where we are up till this moment.

“I want to beg CAN, Christian Association of Nigeria, because I am the only Christian among the six of us here, I want to beg that CAN association should do something about me to see how I can be released.

“I also want to beg Action Against Hunger, Borno state, we are six here; all of us are staff, we went to work and on our way back to our base, we were caught. I beg Action Against Hunger we have families, some of us have children.

“I’m begging Action Against Hunger that they should please do something about us. I also want to count on Nigeria, our nation… we are Nigerians and we are also working for Nigeria. I beg that Nigeria government should please do something to see that we are released.

“Some aid workers were caught and also asked to be released but because Nigeria did not do anything about it, they were killed. I am begging on behalf of all of us here, that please Nigerians should not allow such to happen to us.”

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Copyright 2019 SIGNAL. Permission to use portions of this article is granted provided appropriate credits are given to www.signalng.com and other relevant source.

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