The Islamist militant group Boko Haram claimed responsibility on Monday for the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls during a raid in the village of Chibok in northeast Nigeria last month, the French news agency AFP reported, citing a video it had obtained.
"I abducted your girls,'' Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau said in the video, according to AFP. It did not immediately give further details.
Earlier Monday, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan ordered top security officials to do everything possible to secure the release of more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped last month by suspected Islamist extremists.
In a broadcast appearance Sunday, Jonathan promised, "Anywhere the girls are, we will surely get them out."
The president described it as a trying and painful time and pleaded for the cooperation of parents, guardians and local communities in the rescue efforts.
The girls were abducted April 15 in the town of Chibok in Borno state.
The kidnapping has been blamed on the militant Islamist group Boko Haram, whose five-year insurgency has killed thousands.
Local officials say they believe some of the 276 missing girls have been moved across the border into Cameroon and Chad.
Some information for this report provided by Reuters
"I abducted your girls,'' Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau said in the video, according to AFP. It did not immediately give further details.
Earlier Monday, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan ordered top security officials to do everything possible to secure the release of more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped last month by suspected Islamist extremists.
In a broadcast appearance Sunday, Jonathan promised, "Anywhere the girls are, we will surely get them out."
The president described it as a trying and painful time and pleaded for the cooperation of parents, guardians and local communities in the rescue efforts.
The girls were abducted April 15 in the town of Chibok in Borno state.
The kidnapping has been blamed on the militant Islamist group Boko Haram, whose five-year insurgency has killed thousands.
Local officials say they believe some of the 276 missing girls have been moved across the border into Cameroon and Chad.
Some information for this report provided by Reuters
