NIGERIA: Nigerians protesting against the abduction of more than 200 school girls condemn escalating insurgency in the northern part of the country
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NIGERIA: Nigerians protesting against the abduction of more than 200 school girls condemn escalating insurgency in the northern part of the country
- Title: NIGERIA: Nigerians protesting against the abduction of more than 200 school girls condemn escalating insurgency in the northern part of the country
- Date: 6th June 2014
- Summary: ABUJA, NIGERIA (JUNE 6, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CHANTING "BRING BACK OUR GIRLS NOW AND ALIVE" PROTESTER CRYING PROTESTERS SEATED CRYING PROTESTER BEING COMFORTED PROTESTERS SEATED "BRING BACK OUR GIRLS" CAMPAIGN COORDINATOR, HADIZA BALA USMAN, SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (English) "BRING BACK OUR GIRLS" CAMPAIGN COORDINATOR, HADIZA BALA USMAN, SAYING: "This is a cause of concern for us because we have noted an escalation in violence in the Borno state and the northeast region, we have noticed that there is a new state of emergency that has been put in place and beyond that our president has said over twenty thousand troops are currently operating in Borno state and nevertheless we see sustained attacks, we see sustained killings. This is very worrisome, we call on our military, we call on the Joint Task Force to revisit this issue about the level of deployment. There's a need for us to establish the readiness of our military." VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS LISTENING VARIOUS OF YOUTH LEADER IBRAHIM GARBA WALA ADDRESSING PROTESTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) YOUTH LEADER, IBRAHIM GARBA WALA, SAYING: "We've seen on the pages of newspapers their faces, the mothers are there and the few girls are there also, their faces are published on newspapers. So tell me if for instance insurgents happen to pick up copies of publications and go back to their camp and start tormenting those girls that their mothers appeared on this, on the pages of the newspapers or those that their friends or families or those that even, that were there so I think it's a little bit ofIt should have been done in such a manner that it should not attract publicity even if it's going to be done within their own vicinity." PROTESTERS CHANTING "UNTIL OUR GIRLS ARE BACK AND ALIVE" PROTESTERS IN FRONT OF HIGH-RISE BUILDING BANNER READING (English): BRING BACK OUR GIRLS WRITING ON CAR READING (English): "RESCUE OUR GIRLS" WRITING ON CAR READING (English): "BRING BACK OUR GIRLS"
- Embargoed: 21st June 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nigeria
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAA23G6OK5LNWHP2DD9BHG9I87G
- Story Text: Nigerians protesting against the abduction of more than 200 school girls by Islamist Boko Haram on Friday (June 6) condemned escalating insurgency in the northeastern parts of the country.
Using a now common tactic, Boko Haram militants dressed in army uniforms and slaughtered as many as 500 people in a series of raids this week.
Arriving in at least three villages in vehicles commonly used by the Nigerian military, the militants told villagers they were there to protect them.
Herding the villagers into the village square, the militants then opened fire, killing as many as 200 people in a single village.
During their sit-in protest in Abuja, protesters called on Nigeria's government to intensify its efforts to curb the violence.
"This is a cause of concern for us because we have noted an escalation in violence in the Borno state and the northeast region, we have noticed that there is a new state of emergency that has been put in place and beyond that our president has said over twenty thousand troops are currently operating in Borno state and nevertheless we see sustained attacks, we see sustained killings. This is very worrisome, we call on our military, we call on the Joint Task Force to revisit this issue about the level of deployment. There's a need for us to establish the readiness of our military," "Bring Back Our Girls" campaign coordinator, Hadiza Bala Usman, said.
Three girls who escaped from Boko Haram and some of the mothers of girls still being held are presently receiving therapy provided by non-government organisations in Lagos.
Youth leader, Ibrahim Garba Wala, said the non-governmental organisations should not have revealed the faces of the mothers to the press as it could endanger the lives of the girls still held captive by the Islamist militants.
"We've seen on the pages of newspapers their faces, the mothers are there and the few girls are there also, their faces are published on newspapers. So tell me if for instance insurgents happen to pick up copies of publications and go back to their camp and start tormenting those girls that their mothers appeared on this, on the pages of the newspapers or those that their friends or families or those that even, that were there so I think it's a little bit ofIt should have been done in such a manner that it should not attract publicity even if it's going to be done within their own vicinity," he said.
The mass abduction, and Boko Haram's fight back against a military offensive, has increased political pressure on President Goodluck Jonathan, who has faced regular street protests by activists criticising his response.
Jonathan and the army have said they are doing all they can to release the girls, but have warned any attempt to free them by force could put them at risk, while any deals or prisoner swaps could encourage more kidnappings.
Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague will host a meeting of African and Western officials in London next week aimed at stepping up efforts to defeat Boko Haram, his office said on Thursday (June 5). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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