NIGERIA: Nigerian celebrities join protesters in calling for the rescue of over 200 girls kidnapped from their secondary school last month by Islamist Militants Boko Haram
Record ID:
236702
NIGERIA: Nigerian celebrities join protesters in calling for the rescue of over 200 girls kidnapped from their secondary school last month by Islamist Militants Boko Haram
- Title: NIGERIA: Nigerian celebrities join protesters in calling for the rescue of over 200 girls kidnapped from their secondary school last month by Islamist Militants Boko Haram
- Date: 10th May 2014
- Summary: LAGOS, NIGERIA (MAY 10, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS WALKING AND CHANTING / CARRYING PLACARDS PROTESTER SEATED WITH PLACARD ROUND NECK READING (English): "REAL MEN DON'T BUY GIRLS #CHILD NOT BRIDE #BRING BACK OUR GIRLS" (SOUNDBITE) (English) NIGERIAN MUSICIAN, TIWA SAVAGE, SAYING: "We are Nigerians and this is happening to our sisters, our daughters, you know, our nieces and I think we've left it too long to even speak up to this magnitude so I think it's important for every single person in any little way that we can help, whether it's rallying, posting, signing the petitions, nothing is too small in this matter." PROTESTERS LISTENING TO COORDINATOR PROTESTERS HOLDING PLACARDS READING: (English) "#BRING BACK OUR GIRLS" (SOUNDBITE) (English) MODELLING ENTREPRENEUR, ELOHOR AISIEN, SAYING: "We need more Nigerians to do more of this everywhere in the country, that's the only way our voice will be heard. I think enough is enough, enough of the drama, enough of the Boko Haram, enough of the politics, enough of everything we've gone through in Nigeria, you know, enough of the light issues, enough of the water issues, we, I feel as Nigerians, we're suffering too much in this country which needs to stop, you know, so I'm happy today to be here and be part of this protest today." PROTESTERS AND LAGOS STATE GOVERNOR, BABATUNDE FASHOLA, LISTENING PLACARD READING (English): "DON'T SELL OUR GIRLS FOR [crossed out] 2,000 NAIRA" (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAGOS STATE GOVERNOR, BABATUNDE FASHOLA, SAYING: "What we have heard and the whole world has heard your voices and, is that office of the citizen that you occupy also, I believe that there are other things that we can still do, some of those things is to begin to try and get information out, any type of information I'm sure will be useful to those who are looking for these girls even if all it does is to help them eliminate this possibility and focus on that possibility." PROTESTERS CHANTING / CARRYING PLACARDS
- Embargoed: 25th May 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nigeria
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVABJ6VPIRUWRRF2AEXFSXUUNU9N
- Story Text: Nigerian celebrities joined protesters on Saturday (May 10) in Lagos to call for the rescue of more than 200 girls kidnapped from their secondary school last month by Islamist Militant group Boko Haram.
About one hundred demonstrators marched down several streets before gathering in front of the state governor's residence.
Boko Haram kidnapped the girls from their secondary school in Chibok in remote north-eastern Nigeria on April 14 and has threatened to sell them into slavery. Another eight girls were taken from another village earlier this week.
"We need more Nigerians to do more of this everywhere in the country, that's the only way our voice will be heard. I think enough is enough, enough of the drama, enough of the Boko Haram, enough of the politics, enough of everything we've gone through in Nigeria, you know, enough of the light issues, enough of the water issues, I feel as Nigerians, we're suffering too much in this country which needs to stop so I'm happy today to be here and be part of this protest today", said entrepreneur Elohor Aisien.
Lagos state governor Babatunde Fashola responded to protesters' demands for a statement:
"Once we have heard and the whole world has heard your voices and, is that office of the citizen that you occupy also, I believe that there are other things that we can still do, some of those things is to begin to try and get information out, any type of information I'm sure will be useful to those who are looking for these girls even if all it does is to help them eliminate this possibility and focus on that possibility," the governor said.
Several countries, including the United States, Britain, France and China, have offered support to Nigeria to help find the girls.
British experts including diplomats, aid workers and Ministry of Defence officials arrived in Nigeria on Friday (May 09) to advise the government on the search.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan says he believes the girls are still in his country and have not been moved to neighbouring Cameroon. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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