Boko Haram

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Sunday begged the Islamic State in Nigeria not to execute the healthcare workers it has held hostage in the country since March.

The Islamic State had threatened to execute the health workers, Hauwa Mohammed Liman and Alice Loksha who were working in the town of Rann when they were kidnapped within 24 hours.

The duo were abducted alongside ICRC midwife, Saifura Hussaini Ahmed Khorsa, who was killed in September.

According to a statement issued on Sunday, the ICRC pleaded for mercy, urging the Nigerian government to intervene and also rescue Leah Sharibu, a 15-year-old schoolgirl who was abducted in February from her school in the town of Dapchi.

“Speed and urgency are critical. A deadline that could result in the killing of another healthcare worker is less than 24 hours away,” Patricia Danzi, Director of ICRC operations in Africa said in the statement.

“We urge you: spare and release these women. They are a midwife, a nurse and a student. Like all those abducted, they are not part of any fight. They are daughters and sisters, one is a mother — women with their futures ahead of them, children to raise and families to return to.”

The Geneva-based ICRC, which often works behind the scenes for humanitarian goals in war-torn areas identified the kidnappers as members of ISWA – an Islamic State off-shoot in West Africa.

Islamic State in West Africa, which has killed hundreds of soldiers in attacks in northeastern Nigeria in the past few months split from the Islamist insurgent group, Boko Haram in 2016.