15 January 2018•Update: 16 January 2018
By Rafiu Ajakaye
LAGOS, Nigeria
A video of about a dozen Nigerian girls said to be among hundreds kidnapped in 2014 was released on Monday, with one ruling out a return to their parents and claiming they are comfortable with their captors.
“We are the Chibok schoolgirls that Nigeria desperately wants to return, but I assure you we are not coming back, God willing,” said a girl wearing the niqab, or full-face veil, in a 21-minute video released by terrorist group Boko Haram, which abducted the girls.
The identity of the girls -- some of whom are seen with babies -- has not been confirmed.
The veiled young woman also mocked some of the girls who had earlier been freed in previous deals with the government.
“Poor things, we pity our mates who chose to return to Nigeria. Allah blessed you and brought you to the ‘caliphate’ for you to worship your creator. But you instead opted for disbelief,” she said.
The footage later showed Boko Haram factional chief Abubakar Shekau, who said the girls had seen the light and the “folly” of Western culture.
It is not clear when the video was shot but it seems intended to disprove a recent claim by the Nigerian army that Shekau was fatally injured following bombardments of his hideouts by troops -- and possibly bait to hasten negotiations with Abuja, which has vowed to return all the girls.
Earlier this month, one of abducted schoolgirls was rescued, bringing to 163 the number of girls who either escaped or were freed since at least 276 of them were abducted from their dormitory in 2014.
At least 57 of the girls escaped the night of the abduction from the town of Chibok in Borno state. Three others later returned on their own while Abuja negotiated the release of 103 others from their captors in deals brokered by Swiss authorities, the Red Cross, and some local activists.
The last rescue leaves 112 of the girls still in captivity.
