Amnesty International (AI) has stated that the
horrific killing of a humanitarian worker, Hauwa Liman, by Boko Haram
constitutes a war crime, as the perpetrators demonstrated a brazen disregard
for her life.
Liman, along with two other health workers, Saifura
Hussaini Ahmed Khorsa and Alice Loksha, was abducted in March this year when
Boko Haram fighters attacked the town of Rann in Borno State.
Boko Haram in September killed Khurso, but the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), yesterday confirmed that Liman
has also been executed by the terrorist organisation.
In a statement made available to the media Tuesday
and signed by the Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Osai Ojigho, the
body said Liman was only providing desperately needed humanitarian services to
people affected by the conflict in the Northeast, noting that under
international humanitarian law, all aid workers must be protected from attacks.
According to Ojigho, “Boko Haram must immediately
and unconditionally release the remaining health worker, Loksha. As news of
these grizzly killings emerges, the Nigerian authorities must re-double their
efforts to rescue the hundreds of civilians still detained by Boko Haram-including
15-year-old Leah Sharibu, who was abducted from her school in Dapchi town, and
the remaining Chibok girls.
“All those responsible for war crimes and other human
rights violations and abuses in Nigeria must be brought to justice in a fair
trial,” he said.
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