Murder of Hauwa Liman

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Murder of Hauwa Liman
Part of Boko Haram insurgency
Hauwa Liman.jpg
Murder of Hauwa Liman
Location Maiduguri, Borno State
Coordinates 10°52′55″N12°50′17″E / 10.88194°N 12.83806°E / 10.88194; 12.83806
Date15 October 2018(2018-10-15) (aged 23–24)
Attack type
VictimHauwa Mohammed Liman
PerpetratorsFlag of Jihad.svg Boko Haram
Motive Kidnapping For Ransome

Hauwa Mohammed Liman, a 24-year-old Nigerian nurse and humanitarian worker with the International Committee of the Red Cross, was abducted in March 2018 by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a faction of Boko Haram. She was executed on October 15, 2018. [1] Her death drew widespread condemnation from Nigeria and the international humanitarian community. Before her execution,Muhammadu Buhari expressed sorrow and strongly condemned ISWAP's actions, pledging to hold those responsible accountable. [2] [3]

Contents

Background

Hauwa Mohammed Liman was a humanitarian worker with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). She was a registered nurse, a trained midwife, and a student of Health Education at the University of Maiduguri. [4]

Execution

On March 1, 2018, Hauwa Liman, along with two other aid workers, Saifura Hussaini Ahmed Khorsa and Alice Loksha, was abducted by militants from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a faction of Boko Haram. [5] The abduction took place during an attack on the town of Rann in Borno State, northeastern Nigeria. [6] The attack targeted a military base and a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs), resulting in casualties and injuries. [7]

The militants launched an armed assault on Rann. Several civilians and aid workers lost their lives during the attack, while Hauwa Liman, Saifura Khorsa, and Alice Loksha were abducted. [8] At the time, Liman was employed by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), delivering medical services to vulnerable groups, including women and children impacted by the insurgency. [9]

ISWAP's Demands

After the abduction, ISWAP issued statements and videos demanding a ransom and threatening to harm the hostages if their demands were not fulfilled. [10] [11] [12] The group claimed their actions were justified by accusing the aid workers of collaborating with unbelievers and aiding those they considered adversaries of their cause. [13] [14]

Despite appeals for negotiation and intervention by local and international organizations, efforts to secure the release of the hostages were unsuccessful. [15] [16] In September 2018, ISWAP executed Saifura Khorsa, to serve as a warning and increase pressure on the Nigerian government and humanitarian agencies. [17] [18]

On October 15, 2018, Hauwa Liman was executed by ISWAP, with the group attributing their actions to the Nigerian government’s failure to meet their demands. [19] [20] ISWAP stated that her association with the Red Cross and alleged non-compliance by the government were reasons for her execution.. [21] [19] [22] The killing prompted widespread condemnation and outrage both within Nigeria and internationally. The fate of the third abductee, Alice Loksha, remained unknown. Liman's execution was widely denounced as a war crime and a violation of international humanitarian law. [23] [24]

Reactions

In October 2018, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) paid tribute to her life and work as a committed humanitarian. [25] [26] As part of the tribute, Florence Nightingale medals were presented to Liman's parents by the President of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Bolaji Anani, and the Head of Delegation of the ICRC, Eloi Fillion, during a solemn ceremony in Maiduguri, Borno State. [27] [28]

The ICRC condemned the killing, describing it as a "despicable act of cruelty" and reaffirming their commitment to aiding conflict-affected communities. [29] [30]

Muhammadu Buhari expressed sorrow over Liman's death, condemning ISWAP's actions and pledging to bring her killers to justice. [31]

The United Nations and several human rights organizations decried the murder, emphasizing the need for better protection of aid workers in conflict zones. [32] [33]

See Also

Related Research Articles

Humanitarian aid workers belonging to United Nations organisations, PVOs / NGOs or the Red Cross / Red Crescent are among the list of protected persons under international humanitarian law that grant them immunity from attack by belligerent parties. However, attacks on humanitarian workers have occasionally occurred, and become more frequent since the 1990s and 2000s. In 2017, the Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD) documented 139 humanitarian workers killed in intentional attacks out of the estimated global population of 569,700 workers. In every year since 2013, more than 100 humanitarian workers were killed. This is attributed to a number of factors, including the increasing number of humanitarian workers deployed, the increasingly unstable environments in which they work, and the erosion of the perception of neutrality and independence. In 2012 road travel was seen to be the most dangerous context, with kidnappings of aid workers quadrupling in the last decade, reaching more aid workers victims than any other form of attack. In November 2024, the United Nations reported that the highest number of aid worker deaths on record occurred in 2024. Additionally they stated that 333 aid workers were killed in the Israel-Hamas War, the highest number recorded in a single crisis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Committee of the Red Cross</span> Humanitarian institution based in Geneva, Switzerland

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohammed Yusuf (Boko Haram)</span> Islamist terrorist leader (1970–2009)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boko Haram</span> African jihadist organization

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References

  1. ↑ "Nigeria: Health worker Hauwa Mohammed Liman executed in captivity | International Committee of the Red Cross". www.icrc.org. 2018-10-16. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  2. ↑ Adebayo, Stephanie Busari,Bukola (2018-10-16). "Second aid worker held by Boko Haram executed as negotiation deadline expires". CNN. Retrieved 2024-08-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ "Boko Haram faction kills second aid worker in Nigeria". 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  4. ↑ "Nigeria: Health worker Hauwa Mohammed Liman executed in captivity | International Committee of the Red Cross". www.icrc.org. 2018-10-16. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  5. ↑ "Heightened Fears Over Demise of Humanitarian Aid Worker – THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  6. ↑ "Suspected Boko Haram attack kills aid workers in Nigeria". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  7. ↑ "Analysis | At least one kidnapped aid worker in Nigeria has been killed by Boko Haram". Washington Post. 2018-10-15. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  8. ↑ Haruna, Abdulkareem. "Rann: Mobile phone of kidnapped midwife used to send disturbing message". www.premiumtimesng.com. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  9. ↑ "Nigerian Govt urged to end insurgency to honour slain aid workers" . Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  10. ↑ Busari, Bukola Adebayo,Stephanie (2018-10-15). "Boko Haram threatens to kill kidnapped aid workers within 24 hours, says ICRC". CNN. Retrieved 2024-12-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ "Bring Back Alice Ngaddah, Hauwa Liman, Saifura Ahmed – THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  12. ↑ "Nigeria: With 24-hour deadline looming, ICRC makes urgent public appeal to release endangered healthcare workers | International Committee of the Red Cross". www.icrc.org. 2018-10-14. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  13. ↑ "Heightened Fears Over Demise of Humanitarian Aid Worker – THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
  14. ↑ "Red Cross appeals for lives of abducted health workers in Nigeria". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  15. ↑ Idowu, Kayode (2018-09-17). "Boko Haram kills abducted ICRC health worker". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  16. ↑ "Boko Haram executes second female aid worker". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
  17. ↑ "Boko Haram faction kills second aid worker in Nigeria". 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  18. ↑ III, Admin (2018-09-19). "Toyin Saraki demands release of abducted health workers". Blueprint Newspapers Limited. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  19. 1 2 "ICRC midwife executed in Nigeria – DW – 10/16/2018". dw.com. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  20. ↑ "Nigeria: Health worker Hauwa Mohammed Liman executed in captivity | International Committee of the Red Cross". www.icrc.org. 2018-10-16. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  21. ↑ Okakwu, Evelyn (October 16, 2018). "Red Cross speaks on Boko Haram murder of Hauwa Liman". www.premiumtimesng.com. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  22. ↑ Akinwotu, Emmanuel (2018-10-16). "Nigerian Militants Kill 2nd Captive Aid Worker, Government Says (Published 2018)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2022-12-18. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  23. ↑ "Boko Haram killing of aid worker Hauwa Liman in Nigeria is a war crime". Amnesty International. 2018-10-16. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  24. ↑ Okakwu, Evelyn (October 16, 2018). "Boko Haram: UN, #BBOG, CAN condemn killing of Hauwa Liman". www.premiumtimesng.com. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  25. ↑ Omogbolagun, Tope (2019-07-30). "ICRC honours nurses killed by Boko Haram". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  26. ↑ "Hauwa, Saifura, true heroes of Red Cross, Red Crescent - Daily Trust". dailytrust.com. 2019-07-26. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  27. ↑ "2 nurses killed by Boko Haram awarded Florence Nightingale medals - Daily Trust". dailytrust.com/. 2019-07-23. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  28. ↑ "Boko Haram: Hauwa, Saifura Receive Florence Nightingale Medals – THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  29. ↑ Report, Agency (2018-10-16). "Hauwa Liman's death has broken our hearts, says ICRC". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  30. ↑ "Hauwa Liman: Na heartbreak say dem kill Hauwa Liman - ICRC". BBC News Pidgin. 2018-10-16. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  31. ↑ Mbah, Fidelis. "Nigeria's Buhari rattled by Boko Haram attacks as polls loom". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  32. ↑ "Nigeria: UN chief 'appalled' by killing of aid worker; calls for release of remaining hostages | UN News". news.un.org. 2018-10-16. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  33. ↑ "Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on Nigeria | United Nations Secretary-General". www.un.org. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
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