Nigeria
A new video released by the Islamic group, Boko Haram appears to prove that some of the missing school girls kidnapped two years ago from their school in Chibok are still alive.
The video sent to the Nigeria government shows 15 girls in black robes identifying themselves as the same pupils abducted from the secondary school, BBC reports.
Some of those filmed have been identified by their parents.
Two of the three mothers of the 219 schoolgirls still missing since the mass abduction on April 14, 2014 recognised their daughters on the video but another broke down as hers was not there.
It is the first footage of the girls to be seen since May 2014.
The video is the first concrete indication that at least some of the girls are still alive since a previous video released publicly by Boko Haram in May 2014.
The kidnapping of the 276 girls triggered the global social media campaign #BringBackOurGirls, involving US first lady Michelle Obama and a host of celebrities.
But despite their efforts, most of the girls are still missing.
Nigeria’s Information Minister, Lai Mohammed in an interview with CNN, said the video appeared “under no stress whatsoever” staying that there had been “little transformation in their physical appearance.”
Nigeria’s government had held talks with Boko Haram which had previously agreed to release the girls only in exchange for the release of captured members in Nigeria prisons.
“There are ongoing talks. We cannot ignore leads but of course many of these investigations cannot be disclosed openly because it could also endanger the negotiations,” the minister added.
[BREAKING] Chibok Girls 'Proof of Life' CNN video | 15 Chibok Girls answer questions on video |
— APC United Kingdom (APCUKingdom) April 14, 2016BBOG_Nigeriapic.twitter.com/Wu11msPhy2
Meanwhile,parents of the 219 girls are scheduled to hold a prayer vigil on Thursday at the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok to mark the second anniversary of the kidnapping.
AFP,BBC, CNN
02:46
Nigeria: chibok abduction anniversary spurs demands for justice
02:44
Addressing Nigeria's Mental Health Challenge Amidst Economic Hardship
02:31
Nigeria: 10 years on from Chibok, kidnappings still frequent
01:29
Nigeria: Muslims mark end of Ramadan with Eid al-Fitr prayers
00:53
Six arrested in connection with the murder of South African player Luke Fleurs
Go to video
Nigeria: Ten years after Chibok girls’ abduction, a film remembers them