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| Missing Nigerian girls appear in video shown to Chibok parents | Missing Nigerian girls appear in video shown to Chibok parents |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A video apparently showing a group of Nigerian girls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram two years ago has been shown to distraught parents in the town of Chibok. | A video apparently showing a group of Nigerian girls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram two years ago has been shown to distraught parents in the town of Chibok. |
| Fifteen girls, who are among more than 200 still missing, appear on the video, which was made almost four months ago. In response to off-camera questions, they calmly say their names and where they are from. The girls, who are Christian, are wearing black hijabs. | Fifteen girls, who are among more than 200 still missing, appear on the video, which was made almost four months ago. In response to off-camera questions, they calmly say their names and where they are from. The girls, who are Christian, are wearing black hijabs. |
| Towards the end of the two-minute clip, one of the girls, Naomi Zakaria, urges the Nigerian authorities to help reunite the girls with their families. “I am speaking on 25 December 2015, on behalf of the all the Chibok girls and we are all well,” she says, stressing the word “all”. | Towards the end of the two-minute clip, one of the girls, Naomi Zakaria, urges the Nigerian authorities to help reunite the girls with their families. “I am speaking on 25 December 2015, on behalf of the all the Chibok girls and we are all well,” she says, stressing the word “all”. |
| It is the first footage of the girls since a video released a month after they were kidnapped on 14 April 2014. Their abduction triggered a global campaign for their release under the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls. The campaign was supported by Michelle Obama and dozens of celebrities. | It is the first footage of the girls since a video released a month after they were kidnapped on 14 April 2014. Their abduction triggered a global campaign for their release under the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls. The campaign was supported by Michelle Obama and dozens of celebrities. |
| Related: The Guardian view on the Boko Haram kidnappings: a tragedy with no end in sight | Editorial | Related: The Guardian view on the Boko Haram kidnappings: a tragedy with no end in sight | Editorial |
| The video was provided by Boko Haram as a show of good faith, at the request of negotiators trying to secure the release of the girls. Parents saw it for the first time this week. | The video was provided by Boko Haram as a show of good faith, at the request of negotiators trying to secure the release of the girls. Parents saw it for the first time this week. |
| Hundreds of parents of the Chibok girls were due to hold a march in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, on Thursday to demand the government step up efforts to free the girls. Other parents were planning a prayer vigil at the Government Girls secondary school in Chibok from where the girls were taken. | |
| The previous government, under the former president Goodluck Jonathan, was criticised for its slow response to the abductions. He was ejected from office in an election a year ago, and the new president, Muhammadu Buhari, pledged to step up efforts to find and free the girls. | The previous government, under the former president Goodluck Jonathan, was criticised for its slow response to the abductions. He was ejected from office in an election a year ago, and the new president, Muhammadu Buhari, pledged to step up efforts to find and free the girls. |
| Lai Mohammed, Nigeria’s information minister, has declined to comment directly on talks with Boko Haram, which has previously said it would release the girls only in exchange for captured fighters in Nigerian prisons. | Lai Mohammed, Nigeria’s information minister, has declined to comment directly on talks with Boko Haram, which has previously said it would release the girls only in exchange for captured fighters in Nigerian prisons. |
| “There are ongoing talks. We cannot ignore leads but of course many of these investigations cannot be disclosed openly because it could also endanger the negotiations,” the minister told CNN. | “There are ongoing talks. We cannot ignore leads but of course many of these investigations cannot be disclosed openly because it could also endanger the negotiations,” the minister told CNN. |
| Mothers of the girls who were shown the video this week at a screening organised by local officials in Maiduguri, capital of Borno state, identified those appearing on screen. | Mothers of the girls who were shown the video this week at a screening organised by local officials in Maiduguri, capital of Borno state, identified those appearing on screen. |
| Rifkatu Ayuba and Mary Ishay said they recognised their daughters, and another mother, Yana Galang, identified five of the missing girls. “They were definitely our daughters … all we want is for the government to bring back our girls,” said Galang. | Rifkatu Ayuba and Mary Ishay said they recognised their daughters, and another mother, Yana Galang, identified five of the missing girls. “They were definitely our daughters … all we want is for the government to bring back our girls,” said Galang. |
| Related: Boko Haram: soaring numbers of children used in suicide attacks, says Unicef | Related: Boko Haram: soaring numbers of children used in suicide attacks, says Unicef |
| A classmate of the girls, who was at home on the day of abduction, identified all 15 of those in the video. | A classmate of the girls, who was at home on the day of abduction, identified all 15 of those in the video. |
| About 2,000 children have been abducted by Boko Haram since 2014, according to Amnesty International. Many are used as sex slaves, fighters and – increasingly – suicide bombers. | About 2,000 children have been abducted by Boko Haram since 2014, according to Amnesty International. Many are used as sex slaves, fighters and – increasingly – suicide bombers. |
| In the past year, the Nigerian army has retaken towns and villages in the north-east of the the country controlled by Boko Haram, and has freed hundreds of women and children held captive. | In the past year, the Nigerian army has retaken towns and villages in the north-east of the the country controlled by Boko Haram, and has freed hundreds of women and children held captive. |
| However, many face rejection or are stigmatised when they are returned to their families or are settled in refugee camps. | However, many face rejection or are stigmatised when they are returned to their families or are settled in refugee camps. |