Nigerian Uprising: 234 Girls Kidnapped By Islamic Extremists
The Nigerian uprising has resulted in the death of hundreds already this year, and, in one of the most recent attacks by the Islamic extremist group, the Boko Haram, some 234 schoolgirls have been reported missing and/or kidnapped.
According to a report by the Washington Post, the Boko Haram is responsible for an attack on a school in northeastern Nigeria last Tuesday. Original reports stated that between 85 and 100 girls had been kidnapped by the extremists, though according to ABC News, new figures are stating that closer to 234 girls had been kidnapped during the attack on the school.
Authorities stated last week that gunmen killed a soldier and a police officer who had been guarding the school which is located in Chibok on the edge of the Sambisa Forest. According to the Washington Post, the extremists then stormed the school just after midnight, abducting a number of girls. ABC News reported that the larger number of kidnapped girls reported came after the Borno State Governor insisted a military escort take him to the town.
“Parents told the Governor that officials would not listen to them,” the report stated.
According to The Telegraph, witnesses said they saw gunmen arrive in trucks and on motorcycles before overpowering soldiers who were guarding the school. Reports state that some of the girls were able to escape by jumping off the truck as it moved slowly down the road. One student, who wished to remain nameless, said that everyone had been asleep when the men burst into their room. They took food from their storeroom and then reportedly ordered some of the girls to board the truck.
“Over 100 female students in our government secondary school at Chibok have been abducted,” said Audu Musa, who teaches in another public school in the area.
“Things are very bad here and everybody is sad.”
This attack came only days after another attack killed 75 people and wounded another 141 at the Abuja bus station after a bomb was set of. Reports state that people are doubting the military’s ability to contain the Nigerian uprising. According to the Washington Post, the uprising and the Boko Haram have killed more than 1,500 people this year alone. The report continued on to say that, in total, an estimated 3,600 people have been killed between 2010 and 2014.
As far as the girls kidnapped as a result of the Nigerian uprising, current figures have yet to be solidified. Stay with The Inquisitr as more information becomes available.
[Image via Bing]