Boko Haram insurgents kill four UN aid workers, eight soldiers, abduct nurse

Agencies report

Ms Samantha Newport, Head of Communications, UNICEF Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Abuja, has informed News Agency of Nigeria that Boko Haram insurgents killed United Nations four aid workers, in a raid on Rann IDPs' camp in Borno State.

The deceased are; a medical doctor, an aid worker with the International Committee of Red Cross(ICRC) and two personnel of United Nations client organisation, International Organisation of Migration (IOM) deployed in Rann as camp managers.

Three aid workers were injured and one female nurse was later abducted. All the deceased according to the UNICEF communications head, were Nigerians working with the organisation.

The spokesperson disclosed that the insurgents attacked the Rann town, in Kala Balge Local Government Borno State, where Internal Displaced persons(IDP ) were camped at about 7pm on Thursday.

She further informed NAN that the UN will issue statement over the attack later. The Federal Government is yet to also make statement over the attack.

Edward Kallon, UN's humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria told AFP that ; "Aid workers put their lives on the line every single day to provide emergency assistance to vulnerable women, children and men.

"Our deepest condolences go to the families of the victims and our brave colleagues and we call on authorities to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice and account."

There was no immediate confirmation of deaths or injuries among the IDPs but a civilian militia source in Rann and a senior military figure in Maiduguri said eight soldiers were killed.

Mohammed Abdiker, IOM director of operations and emergencies, said the militants had "superior firepower" and were "armed with automatic weapons, rocket propelled grenades and gun trucks".

"We are outraged and saddened at the killings of two of our colleagues in an attack by Boko Haram in North East Nigeria last evening," he added.

Rann, where nearly 80,000 people are living and supported with humanitarian assistance, has been vulnerable to attacks before.

Boko Haram fighters killed nine people from the camp in September last year, as they worked on farms just outside the town.

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