Authorities have found where 276 Nigerian schoolgirls are being held following their kidnapping from boarding school on 15 April, but will not attempt a rescue using force, saying they fear the girls will be killed.
In a speech to military demonstrators on Monday, Nigeria’s chief of defense staff, air marshal Alex Badeh, said: ‘We can't go and kill our girls in the name of trying to get them back.’
Badeh didn’t reveal the location where the girls are being held by the Boko Haram terrorist organisation, simply telling the assembled demonstrators: ‘We want our girls back. I can tell you we can do it. Our military can do it. But where they are held, can we go with force?’
The crowd, many of whom were transported by bus — indicating an organised march — yelled: 'No.’ When Badeh asked what would happen if they attempted a rescue with force, the crowd shouted: ‘They will die.’
Nigerian leaders have been criticised internationally for their failure to act promptly to retrieve the girls.
Boko Haram had initially offered to free the girls in return for the release of some Boko Haram prisoners in Nigeria. Apparently, a deal had been reached last week, but fell through after President Goodluck Jonathan seemingly pulled out.
As previously reported, the US deployed 80 troops to find the girls following a social media campaign with the hashtag #bringbackourgirls.
Picture: Getty
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.