Ready for negotiations to free abducted girls, says Nigeria

Abuja, July 27: Nigeria's Permanent Representative to the UN, Joy Ogwu said the country is open to negotiations in order to secure the release of over 200 schoolgirls who were abducted in April.

Ogwu Saturday was speaking on the latest terrorist attacks in northern Kaduna and Kano, which killed several Nigerians and injured many others.

It is now more than 100 days after the schoolgirls were abducted by Islamist militant group Boko Haram in Chibok, Borno.

Ogwu said the Nigerian government has not given up hope on the release of the girls as they made continued appeals to the abductors to release them.

According to the Human Rights Watch, Boko Haram has been responsible for the death of 2,053 civilians in 95 attacks during the first six months of this year.

In May, at the request of Nigeria, the terrorist group was added to the UN Security Council's Al Qaeda linked terrorist organisations and was subjected to an arms embargo and asset freeze.

IANS