(Bloomberg) -- Aid agency Action Against Hunger said Islamist militants claimed they executed four humanitarian workers who were kidnapped in Nigeria's northeast in July, bringing the number of deaths to five.
Six workers including an employee of Action Against Hunger, two drivers and three health ministry officials were kidnapped on July 18 while delivering aid supplies to Damasak in Borno State. One of the hostages was executed at the end of September.
Action Against Hunger is “extremely concerned and calls for the immediate release of its staff member, Grace, who remains in captivity,” the group said in a statement on its website.
Nigeria's northeast has been ravaged by Islamist militants belonging to Boko Haram since 2009 and more recently by groups linked to Islamic State. The conflict has forced an estimated two million people to flee their homes.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the executions and said the government is “resolved to beat evil in this land,” according to a statement emailed by a spokesman.
To contact the reporter on this story: Elisha Bala-Gbogbo in Abuja at ebalagbogbo@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Anthony Osae-Brown at aosaebrown2@bloomberg.net, Andre Janse van Vuuren, James Amott
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