NIGERIA: Nigeria rejects swap of Boko Haram prisoners for schoolgirls - UK Minister
Record ID:
236749
NIGERIA: Nigeria rejects swap of Boko Haram prisoners for schoolgirls - UK Minister
- Title: NIGERIA: Nigeria rejects swap of Boko Haram prisoners for schoolgirls - UK Minister
- Date: 14th May 2014
- Summary: ABUJA, NIGERIA (MAY 14, 2014) (REUTERS) BRITAIN'S MINISTER FOR AFRICA, MARK SIMMONDS, SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITAIN'S MINISTER FOR AFRICA, MARK SIMMONDS, SAYING: "The president and I discussed this in some detail and the president made very clear to me that he wasn't prepared to negotiate with Boko Haram for the exchange of the abducted girls and prisoners but what he also made very clear to me was he wanted his government to continue dialogue to make sure that a solution could be found and that security and stability could return to northern Nigeria for the medium and the long term." SIMMONDS SEATED
- Embargoed: 29th May 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nigeria
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVABM6GT9JFRL2P9Z0WNGUKONTWJ
- Story Text: Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan has rejected the idea of a swap of Boko Haram prisoners for schoolgirls who were kidnapped by the Islamist group a month ago, Britain's minister for Africa said after talks with him in Abuja on Wednesday (May 14).
"The president and I discussed this in some detail and the president made very clear to me that he wasn't prepared to negotiate with Boko Haram for the exchange of the abducted girls and prisoners but what he also made very clear to me was he wanted his government to continue dialogue to make sure that a solution could be found and that security and stability could return to northern Nigeria for the medium and the long term," Mark Simmonds told a news conference.
The Islamist group, which is holding more than 200 girls, posted a video on Monday offering to release them in exchange for prisoners held by the government.
Boko Haram militants, who are fighting for an Islamist state, stormed a secondary school in the northeastern village of Chibok on April 14 and seized 276 girls who were taking exams.
Some have managed to escape, but about 200 remain missing.
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.
Britain offered further help to Nigeria including a surveillance plane and the offer was accepted, Simmonds said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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