Humanitarian workers of the United Nation (UN) and Doctors Without Borders have been pulled out of Rann after an attack by Boko Haram militants killed at least three aid workers.
Three UN aid workers, four soldiers and four mobile police were among the dead while another UN aid worker is missing in the attack.
The UN Secretary General, António Guterres, announced the evacuation of all humanitarian personnel and the temporary suspension of all humanitarian deliveries in the area.
Condemning the incident, the UN chief recalled that attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure violated international humanitarian law as he called on the federal government to apprehend and prosecute attackers.
“Those responsible for these and other atrocities in Nigeria must be apprehended and prosecuted,” the UN scribe said.
“At the time of the attack, over 40 humanitarian workers were in Rann. All humanitarian personnel have been evacuated from Rann, and all humanitarian deliveries in the area have been temporarily suspended.”
The Secretary-General expressed his deepest condolences to the affected aid workers, their families and to the Government and people of Nigeria and wished those injured a swift recovery.
In the same vein, Doctors Without Borders, in a statement, also announced medical activities in Rann were suspended and 22 Nigerian and international staff evacuation.
“We are deeply shocked by the loss of three humanitarian colleagues in Rann,” said Doctors Without Borders International President Dr. Joanne Liu in the release.
“These tragic deaths reflect the ruthless violence which the people trapped in Borno face daily.”
The statement also quoted Kerri Ann Kelly, Doctors Without Borders emergency coordinator in Nigeria.
“Leaving our patients, which include 60 children currently enrolled in our nutrition program, without medical assistance, is an extremely painful decision,” she said
“We will continue to evaluate how the situation evolves and we will return as soon as the conditions allow.”
