Presidency reacts to Boko Haram video of kidnapped aid workers

The Presidency has released a statement on the video making the
rounds where some aid workers, abducted by Boko Haram were pleading
for their release

On Wednesday, Boko Haram released a video showing 6 aid workers
with Action Against Hunger, abducted by the terrorist sect.

In the video, one of the aid workers, who identified herself as
Grace appealed to the federal government and the Christian
Association of Nigeria (CAN) to assist in securing her release.

According to Premium Times, Grace also said that Leah Sharibu,
one of the secondary school students kidnapped in Dapchi, Yobe
state has been killed, as well as other women, because Nigeria did
not “do anything about them.”

Leah is among the 110 Dapchi schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram.
She was the only schoolgirl who was not released by the terrorists
after the Federal Government negotiated the release of others. She
was said to have refused to denounce her Christian faith.

Reacting to the video, Garba Shehu, President Muhammadu Buhari‘s
Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity said:

The Presidency has been briefed by the responsible government
agency about the disturbing video showing our citizens, the
humanitarian aid workers held captive.

Presidency has been given assurances that contact is being made
and the captors are being talked to.

Beside these aid workers, there are some others about whom this
engagement is about-Leah Sharibu, a religious leader and all the
others. These discussions have been ongoing even before this time
and what this latest incident has done is to bring urgency to the
efforts that the secret service is making.

Government is making contacts, in the hope that the captors will
see reason to not visit hardship or even harm on these innocent
individuals.

See full transcript of Grace’s statement below:

“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 the
18th of July 2019 outside Damasak.

“On our way going back to Damasak, by Kinnari Chamba ward in
Damasak we were caught by this army called the Khalifa. They
brought us here and actually we don’t know where we are. But this
minute, this moment I want to beg on my Christian Association of
Nigeria because I am the only Christian amongst six of us here.

“I want to beg that CAN should do something about me to see how
I can be released. I also want to beg Action Against Hunger in
Borno State that we are six here and all of us are staffs, we went
to work on our way coming back to our base that was when we were
caught. I beg Action Against Hunger to know that we have families,
some of us have children and I am begging Action Against Hunger
that they should do something to release us.

“I also want to call on Nigeria that we are Nigerians; we are
also working for Nigeria . I beg that the Nigerian government
should please, and please, I am begging; do something to see that
we are released because this has occurred before to this
organisation, RED CROSS where some ladies were caught, Hauwa and
Kabura there were told to ask to be released but because Nigeria
did not act they were killed.

“I am begging on behalf of all of us here that please Nigeria
should not allow such to happen to us. And it also happen again
with Leah and Alice – because Nigeria could not do anything about
them they were not release; they were also killed. I beg that
Nigeria and our organisation Action Against Hunger should do
something and see that we are released. Thank you.”

Action Against Hunger, the NGO where Grace and the other victims
worked has released a statement confirming the authenticity of the
video:

See below:

“A video released on Wednesday, July 24 in the evening shows the
female Action Against Hunger staff member alongside five companions
(drivers and health workers engaged in a humanitarian program run
by Action Against Hunger in Damasak region, Borno State) apparently
in good health condition.

“Action Against Hunger strongly requests that our staff member
and her companions be released.

“They are humanitarians and health workers and they chose to
dedicate their lives to support the most vulnerable communities in
Nigeria. They were only in pursuit of solidarity, humanity and
neutrality.

“Their abduction fully contradicts International Humanitarian
Law and internationally recognized standards for the protection of
humanitarian workers and organizations.

“All Action Against Hunger teams and staff express their full
support and comfort to our colleague and to her companions who are
being detained, as well as to their families and friends.

“Action Against Hunger will not make any comments or give any
feedback to media queries related to this subject except through
formal and written statement.

“Action Against Hunger acknowledges the media for their
understanding in the treatment of this difficult situation.

“On Thursday 18 July, 2019, a convoy of vehicles was attacked on
the road to Damasak, Borno state, Nigeria.

“One of the drivers was killed, while one Action Against Hunger
staff member, two of the drivers and three health workers are
missing.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident as these are
colleagues dedicated to providing life-saving assistance to
individuals and families affected by the ongoing humanitarian
crisis in the north east of Nigeria. We are very concerned and want
to ensure that they are safe and can be reunited with their
families.

“Action Against Hunger strives to ensure that millions of people
in need of humanitarian assistance in north east Nigeria receive
the essential services required for their survival, especially
women and children.

“We express our deepest condolences to the family of our driver
and we extend our support to the family of our missing colleagues
as well as others affected by this incident.

“We appeal to the media and the public to desist from
circulating unverified information about the situation above.”