Nigeria wants ‘proof of life’ video from Boko Haram for missing girls
Kano, Nigeria — Nigeria is facing calls to establish how many of the missing Chibok schoolgirls are still alive, after claims that nearly 100 of them may have lost their lives in captivity. Parents of the missing girls and supporters gathered in the small town in remote northeast Nigeria on Saturday to mark the fourth anniversary of the kidnapping that sparked world outrage. But soon after the end of their vigil and prayers, a Nigerian journalist, who has been involved in negotiations with the Islamist group, said only a "handful" of the girls survive. Ahmad Salkida wrote in a lengthy thread on Twitter that "only 15" of the 112 girls still being held were alive. "Many of the girls have died as a result of cross fires and bombardments of the security forces that no doubt were intent on rescuing them." The Nigerian government, in response, neither confirmed nor denied the claim. President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, said only that Salkida’s claim was "not known" to them...
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