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| Nigeria schoolgirls kidnap: ‘Scores’ of Boko Haram killed after villagers launch vigilante ambush | Nigeria schoolgirls kidnap: ‘Scores’ of Boko Haram killed after villagers launch vigilante ambush |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Villagers in an area of Nigeria where Boko Haram operates have killed and detained scores of the extremist Islamic militants behind the kidnapping of more than 270 schoolgirls. | Villagers in an area of Nigeria where Boko Haram operates have killed and detained scores of the extremist Islamic militants behind the kidnapping of more than 270 schoolgirls. |
| Residents in northern states have been forming vigilante groups to resist the militants who have held the girls captive since last month. | Residents in northern states have been forming vigilante groups to resist the militants who have held the girls captive since last month. |
| In Kalabalge, a village 155 miles from the Borno state capital of Maiduguri, residents said they were taking matters into their own hands because the military was not doing enough to stem Boko Haram attacks. | In Kalabalge, a village 155 miles from the Borno state capital of Maiduguri, residents said they were taking matters into their own hands because the military was not doing enough to stem Boko Haram attacks. |
| On Tuesday morning, after learning about an impending attack by militants, locals ambushed two trucks with gunmen, a security official said. At least 10 militants were detained, and scores were reportedly killed. It was not immediately clear where the militants were being held. | On Tuesday morning, after learning about an impending attack by militants, locals ambushed two trucks with gunmen, a security official said. At least 10 militants were detained, and scores were reportedly killed. It was not immediately clear where the militants were being held. |
| Ajid Musa, a Kalabalge trader, said that after residents organised the vigilante group it had become “impossible” for militants to successfully stage attacks there. | Ajid Musa, a Kalabalge trader, said that after residents organised the vigilante group it had become “impossible” for militants to successfully stage attacks there. |
| “That is why most attacks by the Boko Haram on our village continued (to) fail because they cannot come in here and start shooting and killing people,” he said. Earlier this year in other parts of Borno, some extremists launched more attacks in retaliation over the vigilante groups. | “That is why most attacks by the Boko Haram on our village continued (to) fail because they cannot come in here and start shooting and killing people,” he said. Earlier this year in other parts of Borno, some extremists launched more attacks in retaliation over the vigilante groups. |
| Borno is where the girls were abducted last month and one of three states where President Goodluck Jonathan has imposed a state of emergency, giving the military special powers to fight the Islamic extremist group, whose stronghold is in northeast Nigeria. | Borno is where the girls were abducted last month and one of three states where President Goodluck Jonathan has imposed a state of emergency, giving the military special powers to fight the Islamic extremist group, whose stronghold is in northeast Nigeria. |
| Britain and the US are now actively involved in the effort to rescue the missing girls. The US Attorney General Eric Holder said FBI agents and a hostage negotiating team were in Nigeria providing technological support to police. Britain was reported to have offered to send an RAF Sentinel R1 spy plane to the country. | Britain and the US are now actively involved in the effort to rescue the missing girls. The US Attorney General Eric Holder said FBI agents and a hostage negotiating team were in Nigeria providing technological support to police. Britain was reported to have offered to send an RAF Sentinel R1 spy plane to the country. |
| Boko Haram’s leader Abubakar Shekau Boko Haram kidnapped the girls on 15 April from a school in Chibok. At least 276 of them are still held captive, authorities say, with the group’s leader threatening to sell them into slavery. In a video released on Monday, he offered to release the girls in exchange for the freedom of jailed Boko Haram members. | |
| Today, a Nigerian government official said “all options” were now open – including negotiations or a possible military operation with foreign help. | Today, a Nigerian government official said “all options” were now open – including negotiations or a possible military operation with foreign help. |
| Boko Haram has killed more than 1,500 people this year, 50 of them in an attack on Gamboru last week. Although the security forces have forced the militants out of urban centres, they have struggled for months to dislodge them from mountain caves and the Sambisa forest. | Boko Haram has killed more than 1,500 people this year, 50 of them in an attack on Gamboru last week. Although the security forces have forced the militants out of urban centres, they have struggled for months to dislodge them from mountain caves and the Sambisa forest. |
| AP | AP |