Abducted aid workers send SOS to government

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*Taku (in chador hijab)

Ime Akpan

Aid workers abducted by Boko Haram terrorists on July 18 have appealed to the federal government to do its utmost to ensure their release from the abductors.

In a video clip that has been trending online, one of the abductors, Mrs. Grace Taku who spoke on behalf of five other humanitarian workers and staff of Action Against Hunger (ACF) appealed to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Nigerian government “to do something” about their release.

Dressed in chador hijab, Taku said in the three minutes and seventeen seconds video that she, alongside her colleagues, was by Boko Haram terrorists on July 18 adding that she is the only Christian among the captives.

“My name is Grace, I work with Action Against Hunger, a non-governmental organisation in Borno state. My base is in Borno State.

“We went to work on Thursdays on the 18/7/2019 out of Damasak. On our way going back to Damasak by Kinari, Chmbawa ward in Damasak, we were caught by this army called the Khalifas.

“They brought us here. But actually, we don’t know where we are but this minute, I want to beg on CAN, (Christian Association of Nigeria) because I am the only Christian among the six of us here.

“I want to beg that CAN should please do something about me to see how I can be released.

“I also want to beg the Action Against Hunger, Borno State. We are six here, all of us are staff, we went to work and we were caught on our way back from work.

I beg ACF, we have families, and some of us have children. I am begging ACF that they should please do something that they will release us.

“I also want to count on Nigerians – our  nation, we are Nigerians and we are also working for Nigerian.

“I beg that Nigerian Government should please. I am begging again please do something to see that we are released.  Because this has occurred before in Red Cross where some ladies, Hauwa and Deborah were caught.

“They also asked to be released but because Nigeria did not do anything about it, they were killed.

“I am begging on behalf of all of us here that Nigerian should not allow such a thing to happen to us.

”It also happened again with Leah and Alice and because Nigeria could not do anything about them, they were not released. They were killed.

I beg that Nigeria and our Organisation Action Against Hunger should do something and see that we are released,” she said.

Meanwhile, expressed worry about the video released by the terrorist group showing the captives.

According to a statement by the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, the latest Boko Haram video has created urgency for the security agencies, especially the secret services in the efforts to ensuring the release of those on the captivity of the terrorist groups.

“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.

“Besides 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. Government is working.” he said

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