UN chief condemns killing of aid workers in Nigeria

UNITED NATIONS, March 2 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday condemned the killing of three aid workers in Nigeria, said his spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

Along with the three aid workers, eight members of the Nigerian security forces were also killed in an attack by Boko Haram militants on a military base in Rann in the northeastern Borno State on Thursday night. At least one aid worker remained critically injured and three others were still missing.

The secretary-general expressed his deepest condolences to the affected aid workers, their families and to the government and people of Nigeria. He wished those injured a swift recovery, said the spokesman in a statement.

At the time of the attack, more than 40 humanitarian workers were in Rann. All humanitarian personnel have been evacuated from Rann, and all humanitarian deliveries in the area have been temporarily suspended, said Dujarric.

The UN chief recalled that attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international humanitarian law. Those responsible for these and other atrocities in Nigeria must be apprehended and prosecuted, said the spokesman. Enditem