ActionAid tasks FG on release of Alice Loksha, Leah Sharibu

ActionAid Nigeria on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to do everything possible to ensure the prompt and safe release of aid worker, Alice Loksha, Dapchi schoolgirl, Leah Sharibu and other civilians currently held by Boko Haram insurgents.

The Country Director of the humanitarian organisation, Ene Obi, made the call via a statement on Wednesday while reacting to the recent killing of Hauwa Mohammed Liman, an aid worker who worked in a hospital supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

“We grieve with the family, friends and colleagues of Ms. Liman and we stand in solidarity with all aid workers in Nigeria, especially those who have remained brave and have continued to render lifesaving services to the survivors of the conflict in northeast Nigeria”.

“Hauwa who was abducted alongside two other colleagues Alice Loksha, a nurse who worked in a centre supported by UNICEF and Saifura Hussaini Ahmed Khorsa who worked in an ICRC supported hospital on March 1st, 2018 had been in the custody of the insurgents until her demise on October 15, barely a month after Saifura was killed in September. Alice however remains captive.

“The killing of Hauwa could have been avoided and it is obvious that the insurgents are not making empty threats.  It will be a blow on us as a nation if nothing is done urgently to bring back Alice and other abducted civilians.

“We will like to also remind the Federal Government to expedite the safe return of Leah Sharibu, the 15-year-old school student, who was taken from her school in Dapchi, Yobe State in a separate abduction in February 2018.

“We hereby, call on the Federal Government to expedite and prioritise the safe return of all civilians abducted by insurgents and emphasise that the government exhibit a greater sense of responsibility by ensuring the safety and security of citizens and fulfil its promise of ending the security challenges in the country”, Ene said.