NIGERIA: Nigerian governor says 36 abducted girls in Boko Haram video have been identified

Record ID: 236718

  • Title: NIGERIA: Nigerian governor says 36 abducted girls in Boko Haram video have been identified
  • Date: 13th May 2014
  • Summary: ABUJA, NIGERIA (MAY 13, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING/CHANTING: "BRING BACK OUR GIRLS" PROTESTERS ENTERING BORNO STATE GOVERNMENT LODGE SIGN-POST OF BORNO STATE GOVERNMENT LODGE VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS GATHERED OUTSIDE LODGE WITH GOVERNOR (SOUNDBITE) (English) BORNO STATE GOVERNOR SHETTIMA KASHIM, SAYING: "All the girls in that video were identified to be students of government secondary school Chibok and 36 of them were identified by name by their parents, some by partial . You know once they see the face of somebody that is familiar.. but 36 were identified by their names by their parents." VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CHANTING (SOUNDBITE) (English) BORNO STATE GOVERNOR, SHETTIMA KASHIM, SAYING: "We will bring them back to Maiduguri after proper counseling to sit for the NECO (National Examinations Council) examinations and I will keep them in the government house, they will eat whatever type of food that I'm going to eat, they will sleep in whatever type of place that I'm going to sleep so I want to assure you that we will do whatever it takes to make this young girls productive citizens of the country." WIDE OF GOVERNOR SHETTIMA SPEAKING TO MEDIA VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS SINGING SOLIDARITY SONGS/CARRYING "BRING BACK OUR GIRLS" BANNERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) MEDIA TEAM MEMBER, BRING BACK OUR GIRLS CAMPAIGN, BUKKY SHONIBARE, SAYING: "Chibok is in Borno state and then if there is anyone that we should go to we should still at least to get his own perspective as to what has happened, what are the efforts that are being made, what's the collaboration between all the necessary forces in order for us to have our girls back so yes, it is necessary for us to come here and we are here and I think we are fine." WIDE OF PROTESTERS MARCHING
  • Embargoed: 28th May 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Reuters ID: LVAA44U3Q1XZPYV1LUIPGQZ1AP2Q
  • Story Text: Nigeria's northeastern Borno state governor on Tuesday (May 13) during the "Bring Back our Girls" protest in Abuja disclosed to journalists that 36 of the abducted girls in a video posted by Islamist rebels have been identified by their mothers.
    The leader of rebel group Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, issued the video on Monday (May 12) offering to release more than 200 schoolgirls, who were kidnapped from the school in a raid on April 15, in exchange for prisoners held by the government.
    It was not immediately apparent when the video of the girls was filmed.
    The governor of Borno state, where the girls were kidnapped, Kashim Shettima speaking on the sidelines at a protest held in Nigeria's capital said parents of 36 girls had been able to identify them when shown the Boko Haram video.

    "All the girls in that video were identified to be students of government secondary school Chibok and 36 of them were identified by name by their parents, some by partial . You know once they see the face of somebody that is familiar.. but 36 were identified by their names by their parents," the Borno state governor said.
    Protesters in Abuja had marched to the governors lodge to demand an update on the abducted girls.
    The governor says he will ensure that the girls are well taken care of after their rescue.

    "We will bring them back to Maiduguri after proper counseling to sit for the NECO (National Examinations Council) examinations and I will keep them in the government house, they will eat whatever type of food that I'm going to eat, they will sleep in whatever type of place that I'm going to sleep so I want to assure you that we will do whatever it takes to make this young girls productive citizens of the country," the governor said.
    The protesters say they were forced to march to the governors lodge because they were frustrated with having little information on governments efforts towards finding the girls.

    "Chibok is in Borno state and then if there is anyone that we should go to we should still at least to get his own perspective as to what has happened, what are the efforts that are being made, what's the collaboration between all the necessary forces in order for us to have our girls back so yes, it necessary for us to come here and we are here and I think we are fine," said Bukky Shonibare, media team member, "Bring back our girls" campaign.
    Nigeria's government signalled willingness on Tuesday (May 13) to negotiate with Islamist militants holding more than 200 schoolgirls, a month after a mass kidnap that has provoked global outrage.
    The United States and Britain have sent experts to help with the search and Nigeria has sent two divisions to the northeastern border region.
    Ends.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register