International
AFP
The United States is flying manned missions over Nigeria to track down more than 200 abducted schoolgirls, a Pentagon official told Al Jazeera, as experts analyzed a new video released by their captors, seeking clues to the girls' location.
"We have shared commercial satellite imagery with the Nigerians and are flying manned ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) assets over Nigeria with the government's permission," a senior U.S. administration official who asked to remain anonymous said Monday.
It's not immediately clear what type of aircraft the U.S. has deployed, or where the flights took off. A U.S. team of 30 experts in intelligence gathering, counter-terrorism and hostage negotiations is in Nigeria to assist the government's search.
Nigeria’s rebel group Boko Haram released a video on Monday claiming to depict scores of schoolgirls it had earlier abducted, alleging the teenagers had converted to Islam and stating that they would only be released as part of a swap with imprisoned insurgents.
The group's leader, Abubakar Shekau, speaks on the video obtained by AFP for 17 minutes before showing what he said were the girls, in Muslim dress and praying in an undisclosed rural location. About 130 girls sit in black and gray abayas on scrubland near trees, reciting the first chapter of the Quran, and holding their palms upward in prayer.
Three of the girls are interviewed. Two say they were Christian and had converted while one said she was Muslim. Most of the group was seated. The girls appeared calm and one said that they had not been harmed. To date, no one has confirmed that the girls shown in the video are those abducted last month from a school in the north of the country.
Shekau appears in front of a lime-green canvas backdrop wearing combat fatigues and carrying an automatic weapon. He does not appear in the same shot as the girls at any point during the 27-minute video.
The White House says U.S. intelligence experts are "combing over every detail" of the video and "have no reason to question its authenticity."
Speaking in Hausa and Arabic, Shekau restates his claim of responsibility made in a video released last Monday and said the girls had converted to Islam.
"These girls, these girls you occupy yourselves with ... we have indeed liberated them. We have indeed liberated them. Do you know we have liberated them? These girls have become Muslims," he said.
The Boko Haram leader said that his brothers in arms had been held in prison for up to five years and suggested that the girls would be released if the fighters were freed.
"We will never release them (the girls) until after you release our brethren. Here I mean those girls who have not submitted (converted to Islam)," he added.
Abuja said late Monday that it would "use whatever kind of action" necessary to return the abducted children to their parents.
"At the moment, because all options are open, we are interacting with experts, military and intelligence experts from other parts of the world," Mike Omeri, the director of the government's information agency, said. "So these are part of the options that are available to us and many more."
Boko Haram has been engaged in a deadly insurgency in Muslim north since 2009, attacking schools, churches and government targets.
Civilians have borne the brunt of recent violence, with more than 1,500 killed this year alone while tens of thousands have been displaced after their homes and businesses were razed.
Nigeria's government has been criticized for its lack of immediate response to the kidnapping. President Goodluck Jonathan has now accepted help from the United States, Britain, France, China and Israel, which have sent specialist teams to help in the search effort.
French President Francois Hollande on Sunday offered to host a summit in Paris next Saturday with Nigeria and its neighbors focused on the armed group. On Monday it was reported that Jonathan had agreed to attend the meeting.
The leaders of Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger might also go and Britain, the European Union and the U.S. would probably be represented as well, Hollande's aides said.
Boko Haram has used kidnapping of women and young girls in the past and Shekau indicated that more were being held.
Eleven girls were abducted from the Gwoza area of Borno state on May 4.
Ros Jordan contributed reporting. Wire services
Boko Haram is linked to thousands of killings this year in a campaign of violence that is growing in intensity
The reports are unconfirmed but add to fears after more than 250 girls were kidnapped by Boko Haram in northern Nigeria
Suspected Boko Haram gunmen opened fire on teenagers as they slept in dormitories in northeastern Nigeria
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