NIGERIA: Eight weeks after more than 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped from their school in Chibok activists in Abuja vow to continue their protests until the girls are freed

Record ID: 236785

  • Title: NIGERIA: Eight weeks after more than 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped from their school in Chibok activists in Abuja vow to continue their protests until the girls are freed
  • Date: 2nd June 2014
  • Summary: ABUJA, NIGERIA (JUNE 2, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CHANTING: BRING BACK OUR GIRLS NOW AND ALIVE VARIOUS OF MAN CARRYING PLACARD READING (English): 'WE SHALL NOT BE SILENT UNTIL THE GIRLS RETURN' VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS SEATED/BANNER READING (English): 'RESCUE OUR CHIBOK GIRLS' BANNERS DISPLAYING SOME OF THE NAMES OF MISSING GIRLS (SOUNDBITE) (English) RESIDENT OF ABUJA, WASILA MOHAMMED, SAYING: "I think of the girls and I think it could have been me. It could be, it could be my daughter, it could be my niece, you know it could be, it could be anybody and it's just think of, I think of the mothers and I think, you know what? We have to do this we have to. Someone has to do this. So if we don't do it right then who else? They are voiceless, these people in Chibok they are voiceless until now that we have stood that we are the voices of Chibok." VARIOUS OF MEDIA COORDINATOR ADDRESSING PROTESTERS VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) MEDIA COORDINATOR FOR "BRING BACK OUR GIRLS" CAMPAIGN, ROTIMI OLAWALE, SAYING: "Today is day 49 and if the girls are not rescued at the end of today, tomorrow will make it day 50 that over 200 girls have been kidnapped from Chibok. I feel like a Chibok parent and I'm very depressed to know that we do not know the condition that they are. From newspaper reports, several of Nigerian newspapers quoting the Daily Mail on Sunday reported that one of the girls had a broken wrist, a number of them are ill so we currently feel for the condition that they are right now and we are hoping that there will be a miracle and that the girls will be rescued as soon as possible." PROTESTERS CLAPPING WIDE OF PROTEST GROUND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WALKING IN AND TAKING THEIR SEATS DEFENCE AND POLICE SPOKESMEN SEATED WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE/VARIOUS OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEFENCE MINISTRY SPOKESMAN GENERAL CHRIS OLUKOLADE, SAYING: "Meanwhile the various agencies are working round the clock and are also in constant information sharing with our foreign partners in this effort to curtail terrorism and the local interest groups are also working with us in sharing information to ensure particularly the success of the efforts to get our girls back." CAMERA CREW FILMING PRESS BRIEFING WIDE OF PRESS BRIEFING VENUE
  • Embargoed: 17th June 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Topics: General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA2ODR43Q81XIM8KJ8I4FGFCTI8
  • Story Text: Protests in Nigeria's capital Abuja against the abduction of more than 200 school girls by Boko Haram sect entered its eighth week on Monday (June 2) with activists vowing to continue until the girls are freed.
    The protesters have been gathering daily in Abuja for sit-in protests hoping to put pressure on Nigeria's government to step up efforts in rescuing the girls from the Islamist Boko Haram sect.
    "I think of the girls and I think it could have been me. It could be, it could be my daughter, it could be my niece, you know it could be, it could be anybody and it's just think of, I think of the mothers and I think, you know what? We have to do this we have to. Someone has to do this. So if we don't do it right then who else? They are voiceless, these people in Chibok they are voiceless until now that we have stood that we are the voices of Chibok," said activist Wasila Mohammed.
    "Today is day 49 and if the girls are not rescued at the end of today, tomorrow will make it day 50 that over 200 girls have been kidnapped from Chibok. I feel like a Chibok parent and I'm very depressed to know that we do not know the condition that they are. From newspaper reports, several of Nigerian newspapers quoting the Daily Mail on Sunday reported that one of the girls had a broken wrist, a number of them are ill so we currently feel for the condition that they are right now and we are hoping that there will be a miracle and that the girls will be rescued as soon as possible," added media coordinator of "Bring Back Our Girls" Campaign, Rotimi Olawale.
    The mass kidnapping piled political pressure on President Goodluck Jonathan who on Thursday ordered "a full-scale operation" against the militants. He has accepted help from the United States and other foreign powers to try to free the abducted girls.
    Defence ministry spokesman General Chris Olukolade told journalists on Monday that the government was adamant the girls will be freed.
    "Meanwhile the various agencies are working round the clock and are also in constant information sharing with our foreign partners in this effort to curtail terrorism and the local interest groups are also working with us in sharing information to ensure particularly the success of the efforts to get our girls back," he said.
    Boko Haram has killed thousands since it started its campaign in 2009 and grabbed world headlines in April when it abducted more than 200 schoolgirls in another part of Borno state.
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