Nigeria vows $300,000 reward for info on kidnapped girlsMay 7, 2014 - 15:50 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Nigeria's police have offered a $300,000 cash reward to anyone who can help locate and rescue more than 200 abducted schoolgirls, BBC News reports. They were kidnapped more than three weeks ago by armed Islamist militants from their boarding school in the north-eastern state of Borno. Another eight girls were taken on Sunday from a village near the militants' hideout in a nearby forest. A team of US experts has been sent to Nigeria to help in the hunt. Earlier this week, the Boko Haram group admitted that its fighters had abducted the girls in the middle of the night from their school in the town of Chibok on April 14. The group, whose name means "Western education is forbidden" in the local Hausa language, has staged a wave of attacks in northern Nigeria in recent years, with an estimated 1,500 killed in the violence and subsequent security crackdown this year alone. A statement from the police said the 50m naira reward would be given to anyone who "volunteers credible information that will lead to the location and rescue of the female students". Six telephone numbers are provided, calling on the general public to be "part of the solution to the present security challenge". "The police high command also reassures all citizens that any information given would be treated anonymously and with utmost confidentiality," the statement said. Related links: Related issues: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | About 32,000 rally in Yerevan to deman Pashinyan’s resignation About 31,700 people attended an opposition rally on Thursday, May 9 in Yerevan demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Armenian, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister to meet in Almaty Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov will meet in Almaty. Viva-MTS: Tech solutions to modernize infrastructure of border village The border village has been the focus of Viva-MTS and the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Values since 2015. Ucom's fixed network launched in Artashat To mark this occasion, the company has introduced a special offer exclusively for Artashat residents. |