Nigeria: Rescue Coalition Closing In On Location Of Kidnapped Girls

by Benson Agoha

The ongoing international rescue effort led by the US, Britain and France are closing in on the exact location of the 200 girls kidnapped by Boko Haram over three weeks ago.

* A column military personnel make their way to Borno State in what may turn out to be the biggest rescue mission in recent years.

The rescue coalition is using satellites and eavesdropping drones and have reportedly tracked them to the thick forests on Nigeria's North East.

According to SkyNews, intelligence reports say it strongly believed that the girls are still alive although they have been split into four groups by the terror group to make a wholesome rescue difficult.

It is also thought that while negotiations are still in progress, the girls will remain alive.  Although Boko Haram earlier warned that they are not the "kind of group you can negotiate with."

In a related report, a claim by Amnesty International that the Nigerian military had received at least 4-hour prior warning of the Chibok attack, but did not do enough to stop it, was disproved by the Army on Friday.

Amnesty's Report, released Friday indicted the Nigerian military for the kidnap of over 250 girls from the Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, on April 14.

Director of Defence Information, Chris Olukolade said in a statement that Amnesty International’s allegation was very “unfortunate and untrue”.‬  He said Army's Divisional Headquarters in Maiduguri received a reinforcement call rather than a forewarning of an impending attack.

‪He said while the Nigerian military appreciates global concern with Nigeria, falsehood must be avoided.‬

The threat by Boko Haram to sell the girls into slavery prompted international outrage and protest using the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls on Twitter.

If clues to the different locations of the missing girls are confirmed, a rescue mission maybe under way in a matter of days.

* Twitter: @woolwichonline.
* Photo Credit: Premium Times.