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Video claims to show Nigerian girls kidnapped by militants two years ago Video claims to show Nigerian girls kidnapped by militants two years ago
(35 minutes later)
NAIROBI — A video purporting to show some of the more than 200 girls kidnapped by Nigerian-based Islamist militant group Boko Haram has surfaced on the second anniversary of the abduction.NAIROBI — A video purporting to show some of the more than 200 girls kidnapped by Nigerian-based Islamist militant group Boko Haram has surfaced on the second anniversary of the abduction.
In the video, believed made in December and obtained by CNN, the 15 girls shown are expressionless as they state their names to a man who can be heard off camera. In the video, thought to have been made in December and obtained by CNN, 15 girls are expressionless as they state their names to a man who can be heard off camera.
[Boko Haram’s war on children][Boko Haram’s war on children]
"We are all well," said one of the girls in the video, first broadcast Wednesday. She then encouraged the Nigerian government to meet Boko Haram's unstated demands. “We are all well,” said one of the girls in the video, first broadcast Wednesday. She then encouraged the Nigerian government to meet Boko Haram’s unstated demands.
The broadcast of the video also coincided with a report by the U.N. children’s agency UNICEF accusing Boko Haram of sharply increasing the use of child suicide bombers — with girls accounting for more than three-quarters of the blasts — in Nigeria, Cameron and Chad. The video’s broadcast also coincided with a report by the U.N. children’s agency UNICEF accusing Boko Haram of sharply increasing the use of child suicide bombers — with girls accounting for more than three-quarters of the blasts — in Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad.
CNN reported that the video was made as “part of negotiations between the government and Boko Haram.”CNN reported that the video was made as “part of negotiations between the government and Boko Haram.”
Although Nigerian officials have alluded vaguely to possible talks, there has been few clear details even as the militants wage attacks. The country’s president, Mohammadu Buhari, has pledged to bring home the 219 girls, whose abduction from a school gained worldwide attention and appeals for their release. Although Nigerian officials have alluded vaguely to possible talks, there have been few clear details even as the militants wage attacks. The country’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, has pledged to bring home the 219 girls, whose abduction from a school gained worldwide attention and appeals for their release.
[Free from Boko Haram. But nightmare not over.] [Free from Boko Haram, but the nightmare is not over.]
The last time the girls were seen publicly was in May 2014 video released by Boko Haram. In Nigeria, rumors have swirled over their possible fate. Some women held by Boko Haram in other areas have described sexual abuse and forced marriages. The last time the girls were seen publicly was in a May 2014 video released by Boko Haram. In Nigeria, rumors have swirled over their possible fate. Some women held by Boko Haram in other areas have described sexual abuse and forced marriages.
The newly released video shows only a fraction of the 219 girls, wearing flowing head scarves that conceal everything but their faces. The newly released video shows only a fraction of the missing girls, wearing flowing head scarves that conceal everything but their faces.
Despite the sketchy information provided in the video, Nigeria's information minister Lai Mohammed told CNN the girls in the video appeared "under no stress whatsoever." Despite the sketchy information provided in the video, Nigeria’s information minister, Lai Mohammed, told CNN that the girls in the video appeared “under no stress whatsoever.”
CNN also spoke to mothers and a classmate of the kidnapped girls, who said they recognized the girls in the video.CNN also spoke to mothers and a classmate of the kidnapped girls, who said they recognized the girls in the video.
"I felt like removing her from the screen," said Rifkatu Ayuba, whose daughter was among the 15 girls shown. “I felt like removing her from the screen,” said Rifkatu Ayuba, whose daughter was among the 15 girls shown.
Although thousands have been kidnapped by Boko Haram in recent years, the so-called Chibok girls became an international symbol of the conflict. The United States has dispatched surveillance drones and military trainers, and activists around the world united behind the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls. Although thousands have been kidnapped by Boko Haram in recent years, the girls, kidnapped from the northeastern town of Chibok, became an international symbol of the conflict. The United States has dispatched surveillance drones and military trainers, and activists around the world united on social media behind the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls.
"Two years on, the Chibok girls have come to symbolize all the civilians whose lives have been devastated by Boko Haram," said Amnesty International's Nigeria director, M.K. Ibrahim. “Two years on, the Chibok girls have come to symbolize all the civilians whose lives have been devastated by Boko Haram,” said Amnesty International’s Nigeria director, M.K. Ibrahim.
The United Nations is helping to support some of the people who escaped from the Islamist group, many of whom live in sprawling displacement camps and abandoned buildings.The United Nations is helping to support some of the people who escaped from the Islamist group, many of whom live in sprawling displacement camps and abandoned buildings.
The Chibok girls are thought to be in the remote Sambisa forest in northeastern Nigeria. Even though the country's military has been able to dislodge militants from the cities and towns, a search-and-rescue operation in the forest is thought to be far more difficult. The Chibok girls are thought to be in the remote Sambisa forest in northeastern Nigeria. Even though the country’s military has been able to dislodge militants from the cities and towns, a search-and-rescue operation in the forest is thought to be far more difficult.
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Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world