The International Committee of the Red Cross, (ICRC) which facilitated the release of three abducted University of Maiduguri lecturers ten policewomen says Islamist group, Boko Haram is still holding many people captive against their will.
The women were abducted along Damboa Road when their convoy was carrying the body of a dead police personnel home for burial, while the university lecturers were abducted while conducting oil prospective in the Lake Chad area.
The kidnap took place in Borno state.
ICRC deputy regional director for Africa, Patrick Youssef disclosed this in a series of tweet and video posted on his verified and official twitter handle.
“We are so pleased that these 13 people are free and will be able to see their families again”.
“There are many people missing or being held against their will due to the conflict. We hope that these people, too, will get to return to their families soon”.
The agency head of Nigeria delegation, Eloi Fillion also stated that ICRC was not directly involved in the negotiations leading to their release.
“ICRC was not involved in negotiations leading to their release. Our neutrality does not allow our taking part in political negotiations. We act as neutral intermediary when requested to do so by the parties to the armed conflict”.
“We’re so pleased they’re free. ICRC managed to play the trusted neutral intermediary role – to collect these people and hand them safely over to the Nigerian authorities.”@PYoussefICRC on helping 13 people released today to return to their families in #Nigeria. pic.twitter.com/l75dwn11Hl— ICRC (@ICRC) February 10, 2018