A video purporting to show some of the more than 200 girls kidnapped by Nigerian-based Islamist militant group Boko Haram has surfaced on the second anniversary of the abduction.
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Today marks two years since Boko Haram abducted more than 270 girls from a school in northeast Nigeria.
Thursday marked exactly 731 days since the girls were abducted from their school on the 14th of April 2014.
The kidnapping of the 276 girls triggered the global social media campaign #BringBackOurGirls, involving U.S. first lady Michelle Obama and a host of celebrities.
The video ends with one of the girls appealing to Nigeria’s government to meet unspecified promises.
NUTGWN says the Federal government can not claim to have achieved any victory over the Boko Haram insurgents until the missing Chibok girls are rescued from captivity. Cardinal Onaiyekan said given the signs that numerous Boko Haram militants are now “tired” and losing their impetus and much of the territory they once controlled, they should be encouraged to hand in their arms and seek reconciliation. The girls said they were being treated well but wanted to go home and be with their families. They give the date of the video as Christmas, Dec. 25, 2015.
The video is the first concrete indication that at least some the girls are still alive since a previous video released publicly by Boko Haram in May 2014.
In March 2016, it emerges that Boko Haram also seized 500 women and children from the Borno town of Damasak just months after the Chibok abduction. CNN’s report included Information Minister Lai Mohammed saying the government is reviewing and assessing the video, which it apparently demanded as “proof of life” from Boko Haram. “I don’t know where they are…but we are hoping if they are found in one location, they should be rescued”.
Nigerians also took to the streets across the major cities to protest the lack of action by the government to find the missing girls and destruction of Boko Haram.
The United Nations, UN yesterday said the plight of 219 Chibok schoolgirls who were abducted two years ago is a major conflict that is affecting the North eastern communities.
Galang said one mother, Ayuba, was relieved to see her daughter as she had heard a rumour shortly after the kidnapping that her daughter had been killed by Boko Haram.
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Buhari, who assured them that he shared their pains, said security agencies will continue to explore all possible options for the safe return of their children.
