FG Raises Alarm Over Attacks on Humanitarian Workers in Nigeria

• The Nigerian government expresses deep concern over increasing attacks on humanitarian workers, highlighting 49 incidents involving 79 workers from 2020 to 2024
• Tijani Ahmed calls for stricter enforcement of international humanitarian law, condemning attacks as violations that endanger humanitarian efforts and societal stability

The Federal Government of Nigeria has expressed deep concern over the ongoing attacks on humanitarian workers in the country. This was highlighted during a press conference in Abuja on Monday, marking World Humanitarian Day 2024 under the theme ‘ActForHumanity.’

Tijani Ahmed, the Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), addressed the alarming increase in attacks on humanitarian workers and civilians. He emphasized that this year’s campaign focuses on these troubling incidents.

“In Nigeria, humanitarian workers have frequently found themselves caught in the crossfire of non-state armed groups,” Ahmed stated. “Between 2020 and 2024, 49 reported incidents involving 79 humanitarian workers have been reported. These include the tragic killing of an aid worker from Médecins du Monde, the wounding of a UN pilot, and an attack on the United Nations Aid Facility in Borno State, which led to the deaths of at least 20 internally displaced persons and forced aid workers to flee for safety.”

Ahmed further revealed that in 2024 alone, at least 26 humanitarian workers in Nigeria have been kidnapped, ambushed, or assaulted while performing their duties. He condemned these attacks as not only crimes against individuals but also clear violations of international humanitarian law.

“The Geneva Conventions, to which all African nations are signatories, classify the intentional targeting of humanitarian workers as a war crime,” Ahmed stressed. “Such acts violate the core principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence that guide humanitarian action. These heinous acts not only endanger the lives of those who are dedicated to helping others but also violate the very principles of humanity that underpin our global commitment to peace and justice.”

The NCFRMI commissioner called for stricter enforcement of international humanitarian law in Nigeria. He urged all stakeholders to intensify efforts to protect humanitarian workers and civilians in conflict zones. He also emphasized the need for robust legal frameworks to prosecute those responsible for these violations and end the impunity cycle.

“Protecting humanitarian workers and civilians is a moral imperative,” Ahmed concluded.