New Video Boko Haram Kidnapped Girls Convert To Islam

A new video issued by Boko Haram claims to show some of the nearly 300 schoolgirls missing in Nigeria, who the Islamist group's leader says have converted to Islam. Abubakar Shekau reportedly said the girls would not be released until his fighters being held in prison are freed. More than 300 youngsters were abducted from a school on April 14 from the northeastern town of Chibok, in Borno state. Fifty-three managed to escape but 276 are still missing. Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau speaks on the video for 17 minutes In the video, the militant chief speaks for 17 minutes before showing what he says are about 130 of the girls, wearing full-length hijabs, reciting the first chapter of the Koran and praying in an undisclosed rural location. One of the girls talks directly to the camera. Screengrab of video released showing some of the kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls The girls were shown wearing Hijabs and praying None of the youngsters appears to be visibly distressed, but it appears as if they are under duress. Holding a pad of paper in his hand, Shekau tells the camera: "These girls, these girls you occupy yourselves with their affair we have indeed 'liberated' them. We have indeed 'liberated' them. Screengrab of video released showing some of the kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls Two of them hold a flag in the background "Do you know 'we have liberated them'? These girls have become Muslims. They are Muslims." He continues: "It is now four years or five years that you arrested our brethren and they are still in your prison. Screengrab of video released showing some of the kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls One of the girls comes forward and talks to the camera "You are doing many things (to them). And now you are talking about these girls. We will never release them until after you release our brethren." Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "The video from Boko Haram will only add to the agony of the families involved. It is a reminder of the heartlessness and cruelty of these people." He said British and US teams were working with the Nigerian authorities and security forces which are trying to find and rescue the captives. Dr Reuben Abati, special adviser to the Nigerian president. Doctor Reuben Abati told Sky News Nigeria will not pay a ransom Sky's Special Correspondent Alex Crawford who has spoken to a father of one of the kidnapped girls says he does not want the government to release Boko Haram prisoners in exchange for his daughter. He told her: "It's not right. They'll do it again." A special adviser to the country's president Doctor Reuben Abati told Alex Crawford there were lines the government would not cross in the hunt for the girls. Speaking after it was revealed authorities had made indirect contact with Boko Haram, Dr Abati said: "The government of Nigeria has no intention to pay a ransom or to buy the girls, because the sale of human beings is a crime against humanity. "The determination of the government is to get the girls and to ensure that the impunity that has brought this about is checked and punished." Shekau has threatened to sell the girls "at the market" and some are believed to have already been taken out of the country. The search for the girls remains centred on the huge Sambisa forest, which is three times the size of Wales. France said that Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan had agreed to attend a summit in Paris on Saturday to discuss what to do about Boko Haram. Britain has been invited, as has the EU, the United States and the four countries bordering Nigeria: Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. Several of the countries in the region affected by the consequences of Boko Haram violence are French speaking.

• 2014-05-12T23:05:55+00:00
• Duration: 01:51

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