The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Monday condemned the tragic killing of its abducted staff, Saifura Hussaini Ahmed Khorsa, in the North-East in March.
Eleojo Akpa, the ICRC Communications and Media Relations officer disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.
Akpa said the organisation had further appealed to the armed group to immediately release a second ICRC midwife and a healthcare worker who were also abducted in March.
Eloi Fillion, the Head, ICRC delegation in Abuja was quoted in the statement as saying:“`We are devastated by the murder of our colleague, Saifura.
“Saifura moved to Rann to selflessly help those in need. Our thoughts are with her family and other loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.
“At the time of their abduction, Saifura, as well as our colleague, Hauwa Mohammed Liman, and Alice Loksha, a nurse with UNICEF-supported centre, were providing essential ante-natal care to communities in Rann.
“Rann’s population has more than doubled after an influx of people fleeing violence,’’ he said.
Fillion, however, urged the abductors still holding Hauwa and Alice to release them as they were not part of the fight.
According to him, Hauwa is a midwife while Alice is a nurse, adding that they are daughters, a wife, and a mother, with families that depend on them.
“Their families and friends miss them dearly and will not give up hope of seeing them again soon; there is no ideology or religious law that could justify doing any harm to them.
“Saifura, 25, was a devoted mother and midwife. Those who knew her said she adored her two children, a two-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl.
“The children have not been able to comprehend their mother’s absence, as they frequently asked their grandmother if a passing plane was bringing their mother home.
“That grandmother must now find the words to tell the two children their mother will never return.
“However, ICRC would not comment on the identity of the women’s abductors, their motives or the details surrounding Saifura’s death,’’ Fillion said.
He noted that since the women’s abduction six months ago, ICRC had made sustained and committed efforts to securing the release of the three health care workers.
Fillion added that the organisation would continue to make efforts in ensuring that Hauwa and Alice were released and returned to their families immediately. (NAN)
