A Nigerian journalist shared a Boko Haram video on social media Sunday (Aug. 14) reportedly revealing several Nigerian girls captured by the terrorist group more than two years ago.
According to the New York Times, the unidentified Boko Haram fighter who appears in the nearly 12-minute video claims some of the girls were killed in air strikes implemented by the Nigerian to battle on-going terrorism.
“They should know that their children are still in our hands,” the masked man purportedly states while holding a rifle in hand. The video is believed to show roughly 50 of the girls.
He also shared a list of demands that include the release of imprisoned militants in exchange for freeing the abducted girls.
One of the captives identified as, Maina Yakubu, makes a plea in the video, according to Reuters.
“What I want to tell my parents and the federal government is that the federal government should please release Boko Haram members in custody of security agents so we too can be released,” says the girl.
In April 2014, Boko Haram militants kidnapped 276 girls from the Government Girls Secondary School in the town of Chibok. Many of the victims were raped and impregnated, and forced to become Boko Haram fighters.
Officials from the Nigerian government confirmed that they have been in contact with Boko Haram following the video’s release.
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