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Malala meets Nigeria's leader Goodluck Jonathan over abducted girls | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Pakistani rights activist Malala Yousafzai has met Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan to press for more action to free over 200 girls held by Boko Haram Islamist militants. | |
The militants' leader has reiterated in a new video message that he is prepared to negotiate a prisoner swap for them. | The militants' leader has reiterated in a new video message that he is prepared to negotiate a prisoner swap for them. |
He also expressed support for Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the self-declared caliph of a new Middle Eastern state. | He also expressed support for Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the self-declared caliph of a new Middle Eastern state. |
Boko Haram sparked a global outcry when it abducted the girls three months ago. | Boko Haram sparked a global outcry when it abducted the girls three months ago. |
'Birthday wish' | 'Birthday wish' |
Mr Jonathan's government has faced strong criticism for not doing enough to curb violence by Boko Haram, especially in the wake of the kidnappings. | |
Malala met Mr Jonathan in the capital, Abuja, and urged him to meet the families of the kidnapped girls. | |
BBC Nigeria correspondent Tomi Oladipo says it is highly unusual that the president has not spoken to the relatives, exactly three months after the abductions. | |
The military has also failed to debrief some of the girls who managed to escape from captivity, he says. | |
Malala met relatives of the girls on Sunday, and expressed solidarity with them. | |
"I can feel... the circumstances under which you are suffering," Malala said. | "I can feel... the circumstances under which you are suffering," Malala said. |
"It's quite difficult for a parent to know that their daughter is in great danger. My birthday wish this year is... bring back our girls now, and alive." | "It's quite difficult for a parent to know that their daughter is in great danger. My birthday wish this year is... bring back our girls now, and alive." |
Two years ago, Malala was shot in the head by Pakistani Taliban militants for campaigning for girls' education. | Two years ago, Malala was shot in the head by Pakistani Taliban militants for campaigning for girls' education. |
She survived after being airlifted to the UK for treatment. | She survived after being airlifted to the UK for treatment. |
Attacks | Attacks |
On Sunday, Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau released a video mocking the "Bring Back Our Girls" social media campaign pressing for the release of the more than 200 girls it is holding captive. | On Sunday, Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau released a video mocking the "Bring Back Our Girls" social media campaign pressing for the release of the more than 200 girls it is holding captive. |
Underlining Boko Haram's offer for a prisoner swap, he promoted his own slogan: "Bring Back Our Army". | Underlining Boko Haram's offer for a prisoner swap, he promoted his own slogan: "Bring Back Our Army". |
Mr Shekau, near the beginning of the video, described several of the world's most prominent militant Islamists as his "brethren". | Mr Shekau, near the beginning of the video, described several of the world's most prominent militant Islamists as his "brethren". |
They included Mr Baghdadi, who claims to head a new Islamic state in Syria and Iraq, Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of al-Qaeda, and Mullah Omar, the head of the Afghan Taliban. | They included Mr Baghdadi, who claims to head a new Islamic state in Syria and Iraq, Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of al-Qaeda, and Mullah Omar, the head of the Afghan Taliban. |
He also said that Boko Haram was behind several recent attacks, including the bombing of a shopping centre in Abuja, which killed at least 21 people. | He also said that Boko Haram was behind several recent attacks, including the bombing of a shopping centre in Abuja, which killed at least 21 people. |
Boko Haram, which means "Western education is forbidden" in the regional Hausa language, launched an insurgency in Nigeria in 2009 to create an Islamic state. | |
It took the girls hostage during a raid on their boarding school in the north-eastern town of Chibok in Borno state on 14 April 2014. | It took the girls hostage during a raid on their boarding school in the north-eastern town of Chibok in Borno state on 14 April 2014. |
The government has rejected Boko Haram's proposal to free its fighters and the women and children it is holding in exchange for the release of the girls. | The government has rejected Boko Haram's proposal to free its fighters and the women and children it is holding in exchange for the release of the girls. |
Who are Boko Haram? | Who are Boko Haram? |
Profile: Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau | Profile: Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau |