NIGERIA: President Goodluck Jonathan pledges to find more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by Islamist rebels, as the hostage crisis overshadows his opening address to the World Economic Forum (WEF)

Record ID: 236679

  • Title: NIGERIA: President Goodluck Jonathan pledges to find more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by Islamist rebels, as the hostage crisis overshadows his opening address to the World Economic Forum (WEF)
  • Date: 8th May 2014
  • Summary: ABUJA, NIGERIA (MAY 8, 2014) (REUTERS) NIGERIAN PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN WALKING UP TO PODIUM AT WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM CONFERENCE (WEF) (SOUNDBITE) (English) NIGERIAN PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN, SAYING: "Let me appreciate individually and collectively for your support for us, your sentiments and in fact by your presence here in Nigeria, at this time, you have already supported us to win the war against terror." SIGN READING (English): "WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM ON AFRICA, ABUJA, 7-9 MAY 2014" (SOUNDBITE) (English) NIGERIAN PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN, SAYING: "If you refuse to come because of fear, the terrorists would have jubilated and even would have committed more havoc. But your coming here to support us morally is a major blow on the terrorists and by God's grace we will conquer the terrorists." PEOPLE LISTENING TO CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) NIGERIAN PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN, SAYING: "Let me use this unique opportunity to appreciate other countries that have expressed their commitment to help us, especially in terms of rescuing these girls that have disappeared from one of our secondary schools. Of course the premier of China has been with us since yesterday for a state visit, and the government of China have promised to assist us and I believe that assistance will come almost immediately. The government of the United States of America, the United Kingdom and France have also spoken with me and have expressed their commitment to help us resolve this crisis in Nigeria. I believe that the kidnap of these girls will be the beginning of end of terror in Nigeria." CHINESE PREMIER LI KEQIANG SEATED ON STAGE NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
  • Embargoed: 23rd May 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA4VZL6NQFAH9O0PCQQ59051O68
  • Story Text: Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan pledged on Thursday (May 8) to find more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by Islamist rebels, as the hostage crisis overshadowed his opening address to a major conference designed to showcase investment opportunities in Africa's biggest economy.
    Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) being hosted in the capital Abuja, Jonathan thanked delegates for coming despite the danger posed by the militants before moving on to a speech about creating jobs in African economies.

    "Your coming here to support us morally is a major blow on the terrorists and by God's grace we will conquer the terrorists," he said.
    Jonathan thanked foreign nations including the United States, Britain, France and China for their support in trying to rescue the girls, who were kidnapped from a secondary school on April 14 by Boko Haram.

    "Of course the premier of China has been with us since yesterday for a state visit and the government of China have promised to assist us and I believe that assistance will come almost immediately," Jonathan said, indicating Chinese Premier Li Keqiang who was sat on the stage.

    "I believe that the kidnap of these girls will be the beginning of end of terror in Nigeria," Jonathan told delegates.
    Despite such pledges, Jonathan admitted on national television this week that he had no idea where the girls were.
    France became the latest nation to offer help on Wednesday (May 7), saying it was boosting intelligence ties with Nigeria and sending security service agents there to tackle Boko Haram, the militant group which claimed the mass kidnapping.
    The inability of security forces to protect the girls from being attacked or find them in more than three weeks has sparked national and international outrage and led to protests in Abuja and the commercial capital of Lagos.
    Boko Haram has emerged in a region that is one of the world's poorest, with high infant mortality, low literacy and massive youth unemployment that creates easy recruits for radical Islam. Campaigners often call on the government do more to tackle the north's underdevelopment, which contrasts with a relatively prosperous, oil-rich and largely Christian south.
    The kidnappings and numerous other attacks by Boko Haram have totally overshadowed Nigeria's hosting of the forum, an annual gathering of the rich and powerful that replicates the one in Davos, Switzerland.
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