Western Governments Knew Where 80 Abducted Chibok Girls Were, British Envoy Says
By Guardian Nigeria
21 March 2016 |
10:00 am
It has been revealed that both US and British governments knew where at least 80 of the Nigerian girls kidnapped by Boko Haram were initially but failed to launch a rescue mission. More than 200 girls have remained missing since 2014 when they were kidnapped by the terrorist group from a boarding school in Chibok while…
It has been revealed that both US and British governments knew where at least 80 of the Nigerian girls kidnapped by Boko Haram were initially but failed to launch a rescue mission. More than 200 girls have remained missing since 2014 when they were kidnapped by the terrorist group from a boarding school in Chibok while preparing for end-of-year exams.
Although 57 of the 276 girls managed to escape, the rest have not been seen since May 2014, when they appeared in a video reciting verses of the Koran. But a former British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Andrew Pocock, has said that a large group of the missing girls were spotted but the governments felt any rescue attempt was risky.
He told The Sunday Times: “A couple of months after the kidnapping, fly-bys and an American eye in the sky spotted a group of up to 80 girls in a particular spot in the Sambisa forest, around a very large tree, called locally the Tree of Life, along with evidence of vehicular movement and a large encampment.
“A land-based attack would have been seen coming miles away and the girls killed, an air-based rescue, such as flying in helicopters or Hercules, would have required large numbers and meant a significant risk to the rescuers and even more so to the girls.
“You might have rescued a few but many would have been killed. My personal fear was always about the girls not in that encampment — 80 were there, but 250 were taken, so the bulk were not there. What would have happened to them? You were damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”
Also according to a report in Daily Mail, the Sunday Times Magazine has also seen brutal rape videos which show schoolgirls are being used as sex slaves by the terrorists. Ms Lamb reports: ‘They filmed schoolgirls being raped over and over again until their scream become silent. Some of the girls who managed to escape told Ms Lamb they were kept in
‘women’s prisons’ where they were taught about Islam. Boko Haram fighters would visit and pick their wives. The girls were powerless to resist as even then
the men would be heavily armed. They were shown videos of people being raped, tortured and killed as a threat of what would happen to them if they
tried to run away.
In this article
Related
Guardian Life
1 day ago
American Musician, Taylor Swift, has joined the club of world billionaires, according to Hurun’s world richest people's list. The report revealed that “At 34, Taylor Swift joins the billionaire club with US$1.2 billion, not from typical celebrity side hustles, but uniquely through her music. "Over half her fortune stems from royalties and touring, including US$190…
1 day ago
Eniola Ajao, the producer of ‘BEAST OF TWO WORLDS “AJAKAJU,”’ has issued a heartfelt apology over the decision to award Bobrisky as the ‘Best Dressed Female’ at the movie’s premiere. The award, which was intended as a publicity stunt, resulted in significant backlash from the public and industry peers. Ajao took to Instagram to express…
1 day ago
After metropolises such as London and Stockholm, New York is now set to become the first city in the U.S. to introduce a congestion charge. “Today, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board voted to approve the toll rates for the nation’s first congestion pricing programme." The MTA, which operates transportation in the New York metro…
1 day ago
Elon Musk has announced a new update for users of his exclusive 𝕏 platform. Starting immediately, accounts with over 2,500 verified subscriber followers will be granted access to Premium features at no additional cost. Furthermore, those with a following exceeding 5,000 will enjoy the benefits of Premium+ — also completely free of charge. The announcement…
Music
1 day ago
Singer, Akinsanya Hammed. Aka SpiceBoy, has said his new single song, Grace, is inspired by the challenges he has experienced in life. He told journalist during press conference in lagos. “My life story inspired my song, Grace,” he said in an interview with The Gardian. “The kind of life my parents and I led before…
23 Mar
Barely three weeks ago, Korede Bello returned with a two-track release, one of which was the Minding My Business duet with his former label boss, Don Jazzy.
22 Mar
Popular singer, David Adedeji Adeleke, also known as Davido, has agreed to settle the breach of contract suit filed against him at the High Court of Delta State Effurun by the Amaju Pinnick-led Brownhill Investment Company Limited out of court.
22 Mar
Gospel singer, songwriter, and impactful worshipper, Joy Ezeh, has unveiled her latest work, titled 'I am Healed'.
21 Mar
Mdundo, the unrivalled African music streaming and download platform, strides into the new year with an unwavering mission: empowering artists and reshaping the music industry. Anticipating a remarkable payout of $1.2–$1.5 million for the 2023/2024 period, Mdundo continues to propel the financial success of artists, becoming a driving force in the structural and financial evolution of the African music sector.
Film
24 Mar
Veteran Nollywood actor, Amaechi Muonagor, has died after a prolonged illness, at the age of 62. Muonagor was said to have suffered kidney failure and was on dialysis. The sudden news of his demise comes just a few days after a viral video where he solicited funds to help him have a Kidney transplant. The…
12 Mar
Nigerian actress Rita Dominic has disclosed that she took a caregiver job in the United Kingdom after taking a break from her acting career in Nigeria. Dominic, who graced the screen with her captivating performances, said she took a step back from her rising acting career to deal with personal challenges between 2001 and 2002.…
11 Mar
From Ryan Gosling's show-stopping "I'm Just Ken" to a naked John Cena coming to the stage, there were several stand-out moments at the 96th Oscars in Hollywood on Sunday. Here are some of the most memorable things that happened on Tinseltown's glitziest evening: John Cena naked As he readied to introduce the award for best…
11 Mar
Here are the winners in key categories for the 96th Academy Awards, which were handed out in Hollywood on Sunday. Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" was the big winner of the night with seven awards, while "Poor Things" -- a female take on the Frankenstein story -- won four. Best picture: "Oppenheimer" Best director: Christopher Nolan, "Oppenheimer"…
11 Mar
"Oppenheimer" swept the board on Sunday at the Oscars, Hollywood's biggest night of the year, with seven awards including best picture and best director, crowning a triumphant year for filmmaker Christopher Nolan. Nolan's masterful drama about the father of the atomic bomb, half of last summer's massive "Barbenheimer" phenomenon, also bagged acting prizes for lead…
×
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
0 Comments
We will review and take appropriate action.