105 Nigerian girls reportedly kidnapped by Boko HaramFebruary 24, 2018 - 12:40 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - More than 100 girls are reported missing after a Boko Haram school attack in northeast Nigeria that President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, February 23 called a “national disaster,” The Japan Times reports. But residents in the remote town of Dapchi in Yobe state said they had been left vulnerable to attack because soldiers had been withdrawn in the last few weeks. Nigeria’s government has been scrambling to contain a growing crisis that has revived memories of the 2014 mass abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls from Chibok that shocked the world. The attack has also raised questions about the military’s repeated claims that the Islamist militants are on the verge of defeat after nearly nine years of bitter fighting. Terrified pupils fled the boarding school on Monday night when heavily armed fighters in military fatigues and turbans stormed the town, shouting “Allahu akbar” (“God is greatest”). The authorities initially denied that any student had been kidnapped, but dozens of girls have failed to return home and fears have grown that they may have been seized. Bashir Manzo, whose 16-year-old daughter, Fatima, is among the missing, said parents had set up their own support group to push for answers — and secure the release of their children. “Our first step was to compile a comprehensive list of all the missing girls. So far, we have compiled the names of 105,” he said. Hopes were raised on Wednesday evening when the spokesman for Yobe Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam appeared to confirm the abduction and said “some” of the girls had been rescued. But Gaidam on Thursday questioned whether there had been an abduction at all. His spokesman apologized and said they had been “misled” with inaccurate information. 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 | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |