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The United States have called in the help of the FBI to find more than
200 schoolgirls abducted by terrorist group Boko Haram.
It is feared the girls who were taken from a school in the village of
Chibok on 14 April have already been sold as brides for as little as £7
($12), according to the girls’ relatives.
Attorney General Eric Holder said the US was sending FBI agents to
trace the girls as grief-stricken families took to the streets in protest
over the inaction of the Nigerian government and military to find their
loved-ones.
“Let me be clear,” said Secretary of State John Kerry while visiting the
Democratic Republic of Congo, “the kidnapping of hundreds of
children by Boko Haram is an unconscionable crime, and we will do
everything possible to support the Nigerian government to return
these young women to their homes”.
In a video obtained by French news agency, AFP, Boko Haram leader
Abubakar Shekau said: “I abducted your girls. I will sell them in the
market, by Allah.”
At least 276 youngsters were taken from their school in Chibok, in the
state of Borno, north Nigeria, by the Islamist militants. They packed
the teenagers, who had been taking their West African Examinations
Council exams, into trucks and disappeared into a remote area along
the border with Cameroon.
Nigerian police said 53 escaped but at least 223 were still missing.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said: “We view what has
happened in Nigeria as an outrage and a terrible tragedy.
“The president has been briefed, several times, and his national
security team continues to monitor the situation there closely.
“The state department has been in regular touch with the Nigerian
government about what we might do to support its efforts to find and
free these young women.”
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said: “We promise that
anywhere the girls are, we’ll surely get them out.”
He said he had asked the US, Britain, France and China for help to
fight against Boko Haram and dismissed claims his government was
negotiating with the group.
It comes amid claims the first lady, Patience Jonathan, requested the
arrest of a protest leader, Naomi Mutah Nyadar, after falsely identifying
herself as one of the mothers of the missing girls. But Nyadar insisted
she was representing the mothers of the missing loved-ones, who
could not make it to a meeting in the Nigerian capital of Abuja.
Another protester, Saratu Angus Ndirpaya, added that Patience
Jonathan had abused the women gathered at the presidential palace
and expressed doubts there was any kidnapping. She also allegedly
accused them of belonging to Boko Haram.
The first lady’s office denied the allegations.
Nyadar has since been released.
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200 schoolgirls abducted by terrorist group Boko Haram.
It is feared the girls who were taken from a school in the village of
Chibok on 14 April have already been sold as brides for as little as £7
($12), according to the girls’ relatives.
Attorney General Eric Holder said the US was sending FBI agents to
trace the girls as grief-stricken families took to the streets in protest
over the inaction of the Nigerian government and military to find their
loved-ones.
“Let me be clear,” said Secretary of State John Kerry while visiting the
Democratic Republic of Congo, “the kidnapping of hundreds of
children by Boko Haram is an unconscionable crime, and we will do
everything possible to support the Nigerian government to return
these young women to their homes”.
In a video obtained by French news agency, AFP, Boko Haram leader
Abubakar Shekau said: “I abducted your girls. I will sell them in the
market, by Allah.”
At least 276 youngsters were taken from their school in Chibok, in the
state of Borno, north Nigeria, by the Islamist militants. They packed
the teenagers, who had been taking their West African Examinations
Council exams, into trucks and disappeared into a remote area along
the border with Cameroon.
Nigerian police said 53 escaped but at least 223 were still missing.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said: “We view what has
happened in Nigeria as an outrage and a terrible tragedy.
“The president has been briefed, several times, and his national
security team continues to monitor the situation there closely.
“The state department has been in regular touch with the Nigerian
government about what we might do to support its efforts to find and
free these young women.”
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said: “We promise that
anywhere the girls are, we’ll surely get them out.”
He said he had asked the US, Britain, France and China for help to
fight against Boko Haram and dismissed claims his government was
negotiating with the group.
It comes amid claims the first lady, Patience Jonathan, requested the
arrest of a protest leader, Naomi Mutah Nyadar, after falsely identifying
herself as one of the mothers of the missing girls. But Nyadar insisted
she was representing the mothers of the missing loved-ones, who
could not make it to a meeting in the Nigerian capital of Abuja.
Another protester, Saratu Angus Ndirpaya, added that Patience
Jonathan had abused the women gathered at the presidential palace
and expressed doubts there was any kidnapping. She also allegedly
accused them of belonging to Boko Haram.
The first lady’s office denied the allegations.
Nyadar has since been released.
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