US Planes Spot Girls Abducted By Boko Haram
United States surveillance planes have spotted groups of girls in remote areas of Nigeria leading to speculations that they might be a part of the girls abducted by the Boko Haram from a boarding school in April.
The aerial survey photos corroborate what some Nigerians in touch with the Islamic insurgents groups have reported; that these girls are being kept on as bargaining chips to get authorities to give in to their demands, reports The Wall Street Journal.
The U.S. intelligence said they did not have enough details to confirm if the girls seen in the surveys were from among the 219 abducted from a boarding school.
"It's unusual to find a large group of young women like that in an open space," one US defence official told the newspaper. "We're assuming they're not a rock band of hippies out there camping."
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan is up for re-election in February and is under pressure to give in to the demands of the insurgents.
The abduction of the girls raised international attention and a campaign with famous endorsees was started to bring back the girls.
Recently, Boko Haram's leader, Mr Shekau, released a video demanding a prisoner exchange. "You are saying bring back our girls," said the bearded gunman, "We are saying bring back our men!"
Some reports suggest that providing for the girls has become a sore point with the abductors . Both sides need to move fast to prevent the girls from being sold into sex slavery or being married off to the fighters.
African leaders have gathered in Washington for an African summit to discuss the rise of Islamic insurgents, Boko Haram in Nigeria and the Shebab in Somalia , Kenya and Uganda and also the increasing instability in the region. The summit opened on Tuesday.
President Obama said at the summit that it was an opportunity to provide a forum to "talk to Africa about security issues".
The goal is to work with "strong partners" that have "pretty effective security forces", saving the U.S. military money and helping keep Americans "safe over the long term", he said, reports the news.com.au.
