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UN unveils full list of staff killed in recent deadly attack in Abuja, Nigeria

Security Council observes a moment of silence for the victims of the 26 August 2011 attack on the UN compound in Abuja, Nigeria
Security Council observes a moment of silence for the victims of the 26 August 2011 attack on the UN compound in Abuja, Nigeria

UN unveils full list of staff killed in recent deadly attack in Abuja, Nigeria

The United Nations has announced the names of the 11 staff members who perished when the world body’s offices in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, were attacked by a suicide bomber on 26 August.

Twenty-three people died in total as a result of the attack on UN House, while 116 others were injured, according to information released by the UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Daouda Touré.

Mr. Touré paid tribute to those who died, saying they had “devoted their lives to improving the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians across the country. We will never forget them as individuals. Nor will we forget the passion and courage with which they proudly served the mission and ideals of the United Nations.”

Four staff working for the UN Development Programme (UNDP) were killed: Rahmat Abdullahi, a registry clerk; Iliya David Musa, a receptionist; Felicia Nkwuokwu, also a receptionist; and Stephen Obamoh, a radio operator/driver.

The World Health Organization (WHO) lost three staff members: Musa Ali, a logistics assistant; Edward Dede, a national professional officer; and Abraham A. Osunsaya, an administrative assistant.

Two staff members from the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) died – Johnson Awotunde, a monitoring and evaluation specialist, and Ahmed Abiodun Adewale Kareem, a shipping assistant.

Also killed were Elisha Enaburekhan, a driver for the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and Ingrid Midtgaard, associate expert for the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

All the deceased were Nigerian, except Ms. Midtgaard, who came from Norway.

Top UN officials have stressed that the attack will not dissuade the Organization from continuing to carry out its work in Nigeria.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also announced that the UN would conduct a global threat review in a bid to improve security conditions for staff worldwide.