A top military official in Nigeria says the military knowswhere more than 200 schoolgirls are being held hostage. But he warned itwould be difficult to use force to rescue them.
Chief of Defense Staff Air Marshal Alex Badeh told reporters on Monday that amilitary operation could be dangerous for the hostages. He said, "We can't killour girls in the name of trying to get them back." In his words, "The goodnews for the parents of the girls is that we know where they are, but wecannot tell you."
The girls were kidnapped in last month while taking exams in a secondaryschool in northern Nigeria.
The militant Islamist group Boko Haram claimed responsibility for thekidnappings. The group says it wants to exchange the girls for Boko Harammembers who are in prison.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and his government are facing sharpcriticism for their failure to rescue the missing girls. Several countries,including the United States, are providing the government with help to look for the girls.
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Nigeria's Chief of Defense Staff Air Marshal Alex Badeh, speaks during a demonstration calling on the government to rescue the kidnapped girls, Abuja, Nigeria, May 26, 2014. |
Boko Haram is blamed for thousands of killings during its five-year campaignto establish an Islamic state in Nigeria. In recent weeks, the group hasstepped up the intensity of its attacks.
I'm Christopher Cruise.
