Link to location of embedded video. William M. Welch of USA Today reports Nigeria official: Girls located but can't be rescued
Dana Ford of CNN writes that a Nigerian military official claims he knows whereabouts of kidnapped girls but says the military will not use force to try to rescue them because to do so might get them killed, saying,"We can't kill our girls in the name of trying to get them back."
"We want our girls back. I can tell you that our military can and will do it, but where they are held, can we go there with force?" asked Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.
"Nobody should say Nigerian military does not know what it is doing; we can't kill our girls in the name of trying to get them back."
His comments were reported by the News Agency of Nigeria, a state-run news service.
Badeh continued: "The good news for the parents of the girls is that we know where they are, but we cannot tell you.
"We cannot come and tell you the military secret, just leave us alone, we are working to get the girls back," he reportedly said.
Pentagon spokesman Adm. John Kirby "told CNN U.S. officials were not able to confirm the report.'
The Nigerian military has been accused of both incompetence and cowardice by an almost continuous group of protesters since the April 14 kidnapping of approximately 276 girls and young women. Young women should be added since later interviews with some who escaped indicated they were 18 years old.
Corruption is widespread in Nigeria where top appointments are often doled out on the basis of bribery and nepotism. Previous reports say some Nigerian troops have simply refused to go out into the bush to look for the kidnapped girls and young women for fear of being killed and ambushes. This articles also reports some soldiers complaining that the "terrorists" are better armed than they are.
So, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, may just be trying to deflect criticism back to President Goodluck Marshall, whom he seems to indicate may be negotiating a deal.
This story seems to have broken about an hour ago, so if it is true, we should be hearing confirmation rumors from U.S. sources soon, which I will post in an update.
What a sad and tragic situation for this girls and young women. Our prayers and best wishes are with them, their families, all Nigerian, and all the too many other victims of kidnapping and sexual slavery which occurs daily that we hear nothing of. Let's hope for their safe return and that we can learn how to create a safer and more peaceful world for all people, and most especially our children.
6:30 PM PT: William M. Welch of USA Today reports Nigeria official: Girls located but can't be rescued
Nigeria's military has located nearly 300 school girls abducted by Islamic extremists but fears using force to try to free them could get them killed, the country's chief of defense said Monday.
The Nigerian government knows where nearly 300 abducted schoolgirls are being held by Islamic extremists but is incapable of using force to rescue them, the country's defense chief said Monday.
Air Marshal Alex Barde made the comment in remarks to demonstrators supporting the military in Abuja on Monday, the state-run Nigerian News Agency reported.
6:54 PM PT: Nigeria kidnapped girls: Government 'called off deal'
The BBC is reporting that the girls and young women are believed to be in a remote part of Borno state. And that a deal had been reached to exchange some of the girls for release of 100 prisoners of interest to Boco Haram, but the deal was called off short after President Goodluck Jonathan's return from a meeting in France. Most likely he received much pressure from western strategist who pointed out the likelihood that exchanging prisoners would lead to additional kidnappings.
An intermediary met Boko Haram leaders earlier this month and visited the location in north-east Nigeria where the girls were being held, says the BBC's Will Ross in the capital, Abuja.
A deal was almost reached to set some of the girls free in exchange for the release of 100 Boko Haram members being held in detention, our correspondent says.
But the government cancelled the planned agreement shortly before the swap was due to take place.
It came just after Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan attended a meeting in Paris hosted by President Francois Hollande of France where leaders said they had agreed a "global and regional action plan" against Boko Haram.