PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday gave assurances that efforts will be intensified by his government, working with neighbouring countries, to free all bandits hostages.
He also expressed deep sorrow over the killing of another aid worker as revealed in a video by Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP).
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Thursday, Buhari condemned the gruesome murder of the aid workers.
The President decried the killing of aid workers who had made sacrifices and risked their lives to provide succour for traumatised people.
He urged humanitarian organisations not to be discouraged by the cowardly acts of the terrorists.
Buhari noted that the humanitarian efforts of aid workers had impacted greatly on the operations in the North East, appreciating them for their sacrifices.
He called for the release of all those taken hostage by bandits and terrorists across the country, and beyond.
The President assured all humanitarian workers and Nigerians held in captivity that his administration would intensely pursue and ensure their freedom by “using every possible means at the disposal of government”.
He said: “As the joint military operations by Lake Chad Basin countries destroy the terrorists in the remaining pockets of their dens, with many of them already fleeing the sub-region.
“We will practically and completely erase terrorism from this country and the entire sub-region.”
