NIGERIA: Christians and Muslims gather in Nigeria to hold prayers for the schoolgirls abducted last month in north-east Nigeria by Boko Haram.

Record ID: 236727

  • Title: NIGERIA: Christians and Muslims gather in Nigeria to hold prayers for the schoolgirls abducted last month in north-east Nigeria by Boko Haram.
  • Date: 14th May 2014
  • Summary: LAGOS, NIGERIA (MAY 14, 2014) (REUTERS) ***NIGHT SHOTS*** VARIOUS OF CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS CHANTING PROTEST LEADER CHANTING/WOMEN CHANTING VARIOUS OF WOMEN HOLDING CANDLES/CHANTING "BRING BACK OUR GIRLS" VARIOUS OF WOMEN HOLDING CANDLES/SINGING VARIOUS OF WOMAN PRAYING GIRL LOOKING ON (SOUNDBITE) (English) MEMBER, WOMEN FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE, NGOZI AWUNOBI, SAYING: "We believe as we come here together different faiths to hold on to God and cry aloud to him and ask for the release of those girls, that it's already done so we believe spiritually we have already done it, we pull down the walls of Boko Haram, that's why we're here today." PLACARD READING: "234"/MUSLIM WOMAN PRAYING WOMEN LOOKING ON (SOUNDBITE) (English) WOMEN LEADER, AREWA, AISHA SHAMAIKI, SAYING: "We believe with everybody working together, praying together..... God is going to have mercy on us for these children to come out and go back to their parents." TRAFFIC/ROUNDABOUT SHOWING PLACARDS TIED TO THE FENCE PLACARD READING (English): "#BRING BACK OUR GIRLS - ? - RAHILA YAHANNA" ABUJA, NIGERIA (MAY 14, 2014) (REUTERS) PEOPLE ARRIVING FOR PRAYERS VARIOUS OF PRAYERS TAKING PLACE (SOUNDBITE) (English) PROTEST LEADER, OBY EZEKWESILI, SAYING: "Today would have been a day to rejoice and celebrate their return. Sadly that is not the case." VARIOUS OF CONGREGATION
  • Embargoed: 29th May 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Topics: Conflict,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA9CGVZ9BQPI1T6ZFE1LIVL68ZC
  • Story Text: Christians and Muslims gathered in Nigeria on Wednesday (May 14) to hold prayers for the schoolgirls abducted last month in northeast Nigeria by Boko Haram.
    Dozens of women and children came together at a busy intersection in Lagos lighting candles and singing and chanting "bring back our girls".
    Christians and Muslims took turns to say prayers for the kidnapped school girls.
    "We believe as we come here together different faiths to hold on to God and cry aloud to him and ask for the release of those girls, that it's already done so we believe spiritually we have already done it, we pull down the walls of Boko Haram, that's why we're here today," said, Ngozi Awunobi, member, Women for Peace and Justice.
    "We believe with everybody working together, praying together..... God is going to have mercy on us for these children to come out and go back to their parents," said Aisha Shamaiki, women leader, Arewa.
    A vigil was also held in Abuja.
    Boko Haram has killed thousands of people since 2009 and destabilised parts of northeast Nigeria, the country with Africa's largest population and biggest economy.
    The abductions have triggered a worldwide social media campaign under the Twitter hashtag #BringBackOurGirls, and prompted the United States, Britain, France and Israel to offer help or send experts to Nigeria.
    The United States has sent military, law-enforcement and development specialists.
    Two U.S. officials said on Tuesday a mix of manned and unmanned American surveillance aircraft were being used to aid the search for the missing girls.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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