UN reacts to aid worker’s murder by Nigerian soldier

The United Nations (UN) has expressed sadness over the murder of an aid worker in Damboa, Borno State, on Thursday.

A statement on Friday by Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, said the incident was deeply disturbing.

The deceased was a of a staff member of a non-governmental organization, Meědecins du Monde.

Schmale conveyed his condolences to the aid worker’s family and to her colleagues.

The Coordinator also wished the injured pilot working with the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) speedy recovery.

Schmale said personnel working in northeast Nigeria deserve respect for their courage and commitment to stay and deliver assistance to people in need.

“Humanitarian workers must be protected”, the official stressed.

The UN commended the government and the military’s efforts to investigate the incident and urged them to strengthen remedial measures to prevent a reoccurrence.

The military ordered that the soldier be put down after he killed the female aid worker and another soldier.