The Nigerian terrorist group, Boko Haram has released a new video showing the dead bodies of some of the schoolgirls kidnapped from the Northeastern town of Chibok, in Borno State, two years ago.
On April 14, 2014 Boko Haram fighters stormed a school in the town, terrorizing residents before making away with more than 300 of the schoolgirls. The abduction of the girls gained prominence in the Western mainstream media. The first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama led a social media campaign known as #BringBackOurGirls. The campaign went viral with participants urging the terrorists to return the girls.
When this current Nigerian government was elected in 2015, its leader, Muhammadu Buhari pledged to do all he could to free the girls. President Buhari stated that his government is prepared to negotiate with the terrorists.
However, the negotiations failed and the government decided to use force to free the girls. The terrorists are believed to be hiding in the Sambisa Forest, a vast forest located in the northeastern part of the country. The girls too, are held in the forest. As the negotiation was not successful, the government authorized the country’s military to use airstrikes to flush out the militants from the forest.
In the past, Boko Haram has released videos showing the girls. Its leader, Abubakar Shekau is seen in some of those videos threatening to carry out more attacks on the Nigerian government, as well as foreign countries providing support to the government.
Boko Haram pledged support to the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) last year. Since then, two factions have emerged within the group. It is believed the two factions disagree on the operations of the group. One group believes it is right to kidnap and kill civilians when necessary to advance the cause of the group, the other holds that the group should rather fight the military and avoid civilians. Recently, ISIS released a statement that it has recognized the faction led by one Abu Musab al-Barnawi.
The Shekau faction has since denounced the leadership of al-Barnawi. Shekau released an audio statement on August 3, 2016 claiming that the al-Barnawi has led an unsuccessful coup against him. Security experts say the split within the group has made the situation on the ground more complicated, regarding the freeing of the kidnapped girls.
In the latest released video, it showed some of the kidnapped girls in robes with hair coverings. One girl is seen holding a child, raising fears that the girls have been forced to marry the terrorists.
A fighter in military camouflage, standing before the girls, demanded that the government free some of its fighters in detention, before the girls will be freed. He interviewed one of the girls, who pleaded with the government to free the fighters so that they could return home to their parents. The video then showed some of the dead bodies of the girls. The fighter said they died from Nigerian military airstrikes.
A spokesman for the Bring Back Our Girls campaign, Jeff Okoroafor told reporters that the video is original, revealing that families of those kidnapped had recognized eight of the girls who appeared in the clip. Mr Okoroafor said: “We are still reaching out to some parents to see if any can recognize more.”
Security analysts in northern Nigeria have said the girls are being held by the Shekau faction. The Nigerian government has said it is closely analyzing the video,to know who to talk to in the group so that the girls could be released.
Boko Haram claims to be fighting the Nigerian government, to create an Islamic State. The group has targeted mosques and markets with suicide bombers. Since the group began its violent campaign in 2009, hundreds of Muslims in the northern part of the country have been killed.
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