According to The New York Times, on Saturday, June 21, witnesses and officials in northeastern Nigeria reported that 60 girls and women, and more than 30 boys were kidnapped from Kummabza, a village about 100 miles from the capital of Borno State, Maiduguri. This incident follows a similar incident in April from the militant group, Boko Haram, which seized hundreds of schoolgirls from Chibok to protest Western education and treatment of women and to promote a traditional Islamic state.
In a 57-minute video, the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, claimed responsibility for the April kidnappings of over 270 schoolgirls and condemned their treatment at the Western-style school. He was translated in The New York Times as saying, “Western education is sin; it is forbidden. Girls, you should go and get married.” He warned that he would “give their hands in marriage because they are our slaves. We should marry them out at the age of nine. We would marry them out at the age of 12.”
Other recent attacks in northern Nigeria have been unofficially linked to Boko Haram, including the explosion earlier last week that took place on a college campus in Kano where eight were killed and 20 were left wounded. Additionally, earlier in June, local officials asserted that the militant group massacred hundreds of people along the border of Cameroon. Despite the thousands of troops that have been sent to the region to protect against the group’s efforts, the region is still plagued by Boko Haram’s powerful blows.
Boko Haram is known for its relentless and merciless attacks and kidnappings throughout northern Nigeria. They frequently use hostages as a bartering mechanism to order the release of members of their group who have been detained by officials.
According to The Guardian, the US and UK have deployed counter-terrorism experts and surveillance technology to Nigeria. France, Israel and Turkey have offered additional assistance to curb the forces of Boko Haram.
Photo: Reuters
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