Chibok Girls: UK Pledges Support For Nigeria Against Boko Haram

This was contained in a goodwill message to the Nigerian government by the UK Foreign Office Minister, Tobias Ellwood, and the International Development Minister counterpart, James Wharton.

The assurance comes on the third anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok school girls, in Maiduguiri, Borno State, North-east Nigeria.

Recall that on 14 April 2014, about 276 were abducted by Boko Haram, after the militant group attacked a government secondary boarding school in Chibok, Borno state, where girls from surrounding areas had gone to take exams.

The statement reads: “Our thoughts are with the Chibok girls who remain missing, their families and all those abducted by Boko Haram. We are working side by side with Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram and call for the release of all those who have been taken.

“During our visits to Nigeria last year, we heard how people’s lives have been devastated by Boko Haram. We are committed to supporting Nigeria in the fight against these barbaric terrorists. More than 22,500 Nigeria military personnel have received UK training, with a significant number deployed on counter insurgency operations in north-east Nigeria.

“Lasting stability and security requires all parties to work together to address the long-term causes of the conflict, and the empowerment of women and girls must be at the heart of this process. The UK was one of the first to respond to the humanitarian crisis in north-east

Nigeria, and continues to reach millions of people who have been forced from their homes with lifesaving support to improve education, nutrition and basic health services to stop people dying from starvation and hunger.

“We will not be deterred from supporting Nigeria to tackle violent extremism and build peace for the people of north-east Nigeria.”

Since the abduction of the Chibok girls, the UK government has significantly increased its support to Nigeria to help fight against Boko Haram.

The support covers the provision of a finance, military, intelligence, food, shelter, healthcare and development support.