The Federal Government has disclosed that over the past four years, 79 aid workers have been harassed, arrested, injured, kidnapped, and killed by armed groups. This alarming revelation was made by the Honourable Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Aliyu Tijani Ahmed, during a press briefing in Abuja to mark this year’s International Humanitarian Day.
“In Nigeria, humanitarian workers have frequently found themselves in the crossfire of non-state armed groups,” Ahmed stated. “Between 2020 and 2024, there have been 49 reported incidents affecting 79 humanitarian workers. These include the tragic killing of an aid worker from Médecins du Monde, the wounding of a UN pilot, and the attack on the United Nations Aid Facility in Borno State, which resulted in the deaths of at least 20 internally displaced persons and forced aid workers to flee for safety.”
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Ahmed further emphasized that 2024 alone has seen at least 26 humanitarian workers kidnapped, ambushed, or assaulted while on duty. He condemned these attacks as not only crimes against individuals but also clear violations of international humanitarian law.
“The Geneva Conventions, to which all African nations are signatories, clearly stipulate that the intentional targeting of humanitarian workers is a war crime,” he said. “Such acts violate the core principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence that guide humanitarian action.”
The government, Ahmed assured, is committed to doing everything possible to protect aid workers and called for the strict enforcement of international humanitarian law in Nigeria. He highlighted the severe impact of ongoing conflicts that have displaced millions and created an urgent need for humanitarian assistance.
“Our country is home to all of us and organizations who work tirelessly to bring relief to those affected by crises,” he noted. “Yet, these heroes often face life-threatening risks in carrying out their duties. Today, I call upon all stakeholders to intensify our efforts to protect humanitarian workers and civilians in conflict zones. We must also ensure that our legal frameworks are robust enough to prosecute those who commit such violations and end the cycle of impunity. The protection of humanitarian workers and civilians is a moral imperative.”
Ahmed concluded by extending his deepest gratitude to humanitarian workers for their courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to helping others, which continues to inspire the nation.
