Nigerian officials are confirming that Canada has joined an international military operation to locate and return over 200 Nigerian girls to their homes after being kidnapped by the extremist group Boko Haram.
In a recently released video, Boko Haram leader?Abubakar Shekau is seen saying that the girls have been “liberated” because they were forced to convert to Islam. The video shows the girls reciting part of the Qu’ran and singing. One girl walks toward the camera reciting, her gaze intermittently moving to her left as she nervously walks forward. Clearly she looks terrified.
Nigeria’s Coordinator for the National Information Center, Mike Omeri, said:
“International operations have commenced in collaboration with the Nigerian military? The operations are being carried out in conjunction with Nigerian troops.”?
No indication was given that Nigeria is willing to free terrorists in exchange for the 224 girls still held hostage, kidnapped from the predominantly Christian state of Borno, from the town of Chibok. President Goodluck Jonathan, who initially had no response to the incident, has now accepted assistance from the?United States, Britain, France, China and Israel. Canada is also now joining the forces.
Omeri would not state exactly what sort of assistance the troops would be offering other than surveillance and intelligence gathering.
H/T The Guardian.
Edited by D.H.