The abduction of more than 200 Nigerian girls by Boko Haram could be a turning point in the battle against Islamist militants, Nigeria’s leader has said.
“I believe that the kidnap of these girls will be the beginning of the end of terror in Nigeria,” President Goodluck Jonathan said.
In his speech, he also thanked China, the US, the UK and France for their offers of help to rescue the girls.
Their kidnapping three weeks ago has caused outrage worldwide.
Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is forbidden” in the local Hausa language, began its insurgency in Nigeria’s north-eastern Borno state in 2009.
At least 1,200 people are estimated to have died in the violence and security crackdown this year alone.
For the past week there have been daily protests countrywide calling for more to be done to find the girls.
(via BBC)
