NAN
Alarmed by the incessant attacks on and killings of medical and health workers in parts of the country, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has condemned recent the murder of Hauwa Liman, an ICRC health worker, in Borno.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Late Liman has been in captivity since she was abducted by Boko Haram insurgents.
Dr Obitade Obimakinde, the Publicity Secretary of NMA, expressed the position of members in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.
“The NMA condemns in strong terms the killing of the second health worker, Hauwa Mohammed Liman, who has been in captivity since her abduction with two others by Boko Haram sect on Monday, 15th October 2018.
“We learnt that Hauwa Liman was murdered following a threat by the Boko Haram sect to do so despite appeals from very many organisations and the government.
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“She is the second abducted humanitarian health worker to be murdered in Nigeria within the last one month.
“Liman, a 24-year-old, was a midwife who has been involved in humanitarian services since she became a midwife.
“She was said to have been abducted since 1st March, 2018, in the north-eastern town of Rann, alongside two other aid workers, Saifura Hussaini and Alice Loksha,’’ the statement read in part.
NAN recalls that Saifura was killed on Sept. 16 while Hauwa and Alice remained in captivity until Oct. 15, when Hauwa was murdered by her captives.
The statement said that the NMA considered Liman’s killing as a despicable act which has a devastating effect on humanity.
“We equally condemn the incessant killing of innocent souls by the Boko Haram sect,’’ it added.
The NMA therefore sympathises with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the family of the deceased at this difficult time.
“We also note the response of the Federal Government, condemning the killing while stating that they did all they could do to ensure her release,” the statement said.
While appreciating the efforts of the government, the association however admonished the government to step up efforts in the areas of security of lives and property, especially of those offering humanitarian services across the country.
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According to the statement, adequate and proactive security measures will have prevented the needless act of terrorism and kidnapping embarked upon by the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents.
The NMA further called on the federal government to do everything within its capacity to ensure the release of all the other captives of Boko Haram.
The captives include Alice Loksha, the remaining health worker in captivity, and Leah Sharibu, a 15-year-old student of Dapchi girls school in Yobe, abducted by the group in a separate incident in February.
Besides, the association advised the government to ensure prompt action were taken, adding that time is of the essence in this regard.
