No news of over 200 abducted girls: Nigerian army chief

Abuja, Mar 18: The Nigerian military, battling insurgency in the northeast, has had no news of more than 200 girls abducted 11 months ago by Boko Haram Islamists, the army chief has said.

Responding to a question from reporters on the fate of the missing 219 schoolgirls, Lieutenant General Kenneth Minimah yesterday said "no news for now."

"In all the liberated areas we have also made enquiries," but when the Boko Haram fighters flee they take their dependants with them, he told reporters after a security council meeting.

"Those we have come in contact with have not made any comment suggesting that the Chibok girls were there and were taken away," he added. Nevertheless Minimah said he remained optimistic that details of the girls' whereabouts would become known as the size of the territory under Boko Haram control continues to shrink.

Boko Haram insurgents abducted a total of 276 school girls from Chibok, in northeastern Borno state, in April 2014. Fifty-seven of the girls managed to escape while the 219 are still being held by Boko Haram. Their abduction triggered international condemnation and outcry.

Critics have accused the government of not doing enough to ensure the rescue of the girls. A top military officer said last year that they knew where they were being held. Minimah confirmed that Yobe and Adamawa states "have been liberated completely" from the control of Boko Haram.

In Borno state, only three local governments - Abadam, Gwoza and Kala-Balge - are still under the countrol of Boko Haram, the army chief said. Nigeria has begun the "final onslaught" against Boko Haram, the country's national security spokesman said yesterday in London.

On a visit to London, Mike Omeri told AFP that "significant strategic military successes and gains" had been made against the Islamists in recent weeks. Omeri had announced in Abuja last week that 36 towns had been recaptured from Boko Haram. Troops on Monday recaptured Bama, Borno's second main city, the military claimed. The insurgency has left more than 13,000 people dead since 2009 and forced some 1.5 million others to flee their homes.

AFP