Death toll of UN staff from Nigerian terrorist attack rises to 12

The toll of United Nations staff members killed by the suicide bomb attack in August against its offices in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, has risen to 12 with the death of one of those critically injured, bringing the overall death toll to 24.

Sunday Nwachukwu, an employee of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) who was one of the 12 first critically injured UN staff members on life-support systems to be evacuated to South Africa by air ambulances after the 26 August attack, passed away earlier this month, it was announced today.

“The devastating attack has taken the lives of our colleagues and partners and maimed many people all of whom were in the building in the pursuit of service to others,” UN Resident Coordinator Daouda Touré said.

“Their sacrifice will not be in vain; we will strive to pursue our work, the work for the people of Nigeria as prescribed in the UN Charter, which says ‘we the people’.”

He reaffirmed that UN agencies in Nigeria will continue with their mission to improve the lives of poor people, conquer hunger, disease and illiteracy, and encourage respect for each other’s rights and freedoms, as well as focusing on job creation, poverty alleviation, democratic governance, and reproductive and maternal health for all.

Mr. Touré described Mr. Nwachukwu as “a hard-working colleague and a friendly brother.”