The Federal Government has expressed concern over the incessant attacks on humanitarian workers in the country.
At a press briefing in Abuja on Monday to mark the World Humanitarian Day 2024, the Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Tijani Ahmed, said this year’s campaign addresses the alarming rise in attacks on humanitarian workers and civilians.
Speaking on the theme, ‘ActForHumanity,’ he lamented that humanitarian workers have frequently found themselves in the crossfire of non-state armed groups.
According to Ahmed, between 2020 and 2024, there have been 49 reported incidents affecting 79 humanitarian workers.
He said the attacks are not just crimes against individuals but are blatant violations of international humanitarian law.
“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,” he said.
Ahmed, called for the strict enforcement of international humanitarian law in Nigeria,
“We must also ensure that our legal frameworks are robust enough to prosecute those who commit such violations and end the cycle of impunity as the protection of humanitarian workers and civilians is a moral imperative,” he added.
