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Nigeria girls' abduction: Protest march in Abuja Nigeria girls' abduction: Protest march in Abuja
(about 1 hour later)
Demonstrators are to march through the Nigerian capital Abuja to press for the release of more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by militants two weeks ago. Hundreds of demonstrators are marching through the Nigerian capital, Abuja, to press for the release of more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by militants two weeks ago.
They say they will march to the National Assembly and demand more action from the government, which has been criticised for not doing enough. The government denies claims by the protesters that it is not doing enough to secure their release.
The Islamist group Boko Haram has been blamed for abducting the girls from their school in Chibok, Borno state.The Islamist group Boko Haram has been blamed for abducting the girls from their school in Chibok, Borno state.
Boko Haram has not yet made any response to the accusation.Boko Haram has not yet made any response to the accusation.
The group, whose name means "Western education is forbidden" in the local Hausa language, has been blamed for 1,500 deaths in attacks this year alone. 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.
'Million-woman march' In tears
A "million-woman protest march" has been called by the Women for Peace and Justice organisation on Wednesday to demand more resources for securing the girls' release. Organisers told the BBC that about 500 people were marching to the National Assembly to hand over a letter demanding that the security forces be given more resources and that the missing daughters are returned home.
They will hold a rally at Unity Fountain in central Abuja and then march to the National Assembly to hand over a letter demanding Nigeria's missing daughters are returned home. The protest, labelled the "million-woman march" has been called by the Women for Peace and Justice organisation.
Anger has mounted in recent days. Parents have criticised the government's search and rescue efforts and the number of missing girls has been disputed. Nigeria's Interior Minister Abba Moro told the BBC's Focus on Africa radio programme that he understood the "outpouring of emotions", but the government could not divulge details of the steps it has taken to help the girls regain their freedom.
Government had to act in a "discreet" way because the militants had threatened to kill the girls if "certain steps" were taken.
Anger has mounted in recent days over the abductions. Parents have criticised the government's search and rescue efforts and the number of missing girls has been disputed.
March organiser Hadiza Bala Usman told the BBC that the women wanted to know why soldiers seemed so ill-equipped to find the girls.March organiser Hadiza Bala Usman told the BBC that the women wanted to know why soldiers seemed so ill-equipped to find the girls.
She warned that the abductions would discourage parents from sending their daughters to school in an area where few girls are given an education.She warned that the abductions would discourage parents from sending their daughters to school in an area where few girls are given an education.
Saruta, a woman from Chibok, told the BBC's Newsday that the community was desperate for help.Saruta, a woman from Chibok, told the BBC's Newsday that the community was desperate for help.
"For how long are we going to wait for the government to help us? We can't bear it anymore. We can't," she said, breaking down in tears."For how long are we going to wait for the government to help us? We can't bear it anymore. We can't," she said, breaking down in tears.
"We just want the government to help us, we want the whole world to hear this and help us," she said."We just want the government to help us, we want the whole world to hear this and help us," she said.
On Tuesday, a local official said some of the girls may have been taken to neighbouring states and forced to marry the militants.On Tuesday, a local official said some of the girls may have been taken to neighbouring states and forced to marry the militants.
Mr Bitrus, a Chibok community leader, said 43 of the girls had "regained their freedom" after escaping, while 230 were still in captivity. He was adamant that this figure - higher than previous estimates - was correct.Mr Bitrus, a Chibok community leader, said 43 of the girls had "regained their freedom" after escaping, while 230 were still in captivity. He was adamant that this figure - higher than previous estimates - was correct.
Swathes of north-eastern Nigeria are, in effect, off limits to the military, allowing the militants to move the girls towards, or perhaps even across, the country's borders with impunity, says the BBC's Will Ross in Abuja.Swathes of north-eastern Nigeria are, in effect, off limits to the military, allowing the militants to move the girls towards, or perhaps even across, the country's borders with impunity, says the BBC's Will Ross in Abuja.
On Tuesday, dozens of women from Borno state staged a demonstration outside Nigeria's parliament, calling for the rescue of their daughters, AFP reports.
"Our grievance is this: for the past two weeks and this is the third week, we have not heard anybody talking to us," protest leader Naomi Mutah was quoted as saying.
The government has said the security forces are searching for the girls, but its critics believe more could have been done.
The students were about to sit their final year exam and so are mostly aged between 16 and 18.The students were about to sit their final year exam and so are mostly aged between 16 and 18.
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau first threatened to treat captured women and girls as slaves in a video released in May 2013.Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau first threatened to treat captured women and girls as slaves in a video released in May 2013.
It fuelled concern at the time that the group was adhering to the ancient Islamic belief that women captured during war are slaves with whom their "masters" can have sex, correspondents say.It fuelled concern at the time that the group was adhering to the ancient Islamic belief that women captured during war are slaves with whom their "masters" can have sex, correspondents say.
Are you taking part in the protests? Do you have further information on this story? Send us your comments. You can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Chibok abductions'.Are you taking part in the protests? Do you have further information on this story? Send us your comments. You can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Chibok abductions'.