ISWAP ‘kills’ aid worker, blames it on FG

Ahmed Salkida, a journalist known to have access to the leadership of Boko Haram, says one out of the six abducted aid workers of Action Against Hunger (AAH), an international non-governmental organisation (NGO), has been killed.

Salkida disclosed this through his Twitter handle on Wednesday.

The six aid workers, five male and a female, were kidnapped by members of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) after their convoy was attacked in Damasak, Borno state.

In a video obtained by TheCable after the abduction, one of the victims identified as Grace pleaded with the federal government, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the international community to come to their rescue.

The journalist said the deceased, a male, was shot at a close range in a video seen by him.

According to him, the insurgents alleged that they took the action because “the government deceived them”.

“Just In: #ISWAP has executed one of the six aid workers, working with the Action Against Hunger that was abducted two months ago in Borno,” he tweeted.

“One of the male aid workers was executed at close range in a short video clip seen by this reporter.

“The group, in a horrific video of the execution, said it took the action because ‘the government deceived them’ following months of what is now known as secret negotiations between a team of intermediaries and unnamed officials.

“ISWAP has also threatened to execute the other remaining staff of the International Non-Governmental Organisation (ACF/AAH). Recall, the INGO was declared persona non grata last week by the @HQNigerian Army for aiding terrorism in the region, an allegation the INGO denied.”

Just In: #ISWAP has executed one of the six aid workers, working with the Action Against Hunger that were abducted two months ago in Borno. One of the male aid workers was executed at close range in a short video clip seen by this reporter. pic.twitter.com/JM6DjMTxx2

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— Ahmad Salkida (@A_Salkida) September 25, 2019

The group, in a horrific video of the execution, said it took the action because "the government deceived them" following months of what is now known as secret negotiations between a team of intermediaries and unnamed officials.

— Ahmad Salkida (@A_Salkida) September 25, 2019

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ISWAP has also threatened to execute the other remaining staff of the International Non Governmental organization (ACF/AAH). Recall, the INGO was declared persona non grata last week by the @HQNigerianArmy for aiding terrorism in the region, an allegation the INGO denied.

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— Ahmad Salkida (@A_Salkida) September 25, 2019

Last Thursday, the army shut down the offices of AAH in the north-east over allegations of providing food and healthcare to the insurgents.

The army had accused NGOs of providing humanitarian support to the insurgents, warning that “it will not hesitate to sanction any such recalcitrant organisation as appropriate”.