Reps beg foreign NGOs not to abandon Nigeria over death of Hauwa Leman

The lawmakers made the plea following the execution of Hauwa Leman, an aid worker with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a faction of Boko Haram, killed Leman on Monday, after previously executing Saifura Ahmed, another aid worker abducted in Borno state. The execution is despite a plea from ICRC, calling on the federal government to avert Leman’s killing. The insurgents also threatened to enslave Leah Sharibu, the only Christian among the students abducted from Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe state. Contributing to a motion introduced during plenary on Tuesday, the federal lawmakers called on Nigeria’s development partners “not to relent in their aid and support for counter-terrorism in Nigeria”. They also urged the government to urgently commence negotiations for the safe return of the remaining abductees. The federal government had in a statement on Monday condemned Leman’s execution, saying it did everything “any responsible government should do” to save her life.]]>