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Outrage in Nigeria grows over Islamist abduction of girls

by Reuters

Protests in the Nigerian capital are growing over the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls by Islamist Boko Haram gunmen more than three weeks ago.

They're calling for security forces to search harder.

The look on their faces says it all.

Hopes that their girls will be released soon are fading.

Boko Haram, whose name means "Western education is forbidden" has threatened to sell the girls into slavery.

The UK, US, and France have despatched teams of experts to Nigeria to help recover the girls.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER DAVID CAMERON SAYING:

"I am the father of two young daughters and my reaction is exactly the same as his and every father or mother in this land or in the world. This is an act of pure evil. It has united people across the planet to stand with Nigeria, to help find these children and return them to their parents."

International attention is growing, putting more pressure on the Nigerian government, which has been criticised for responding too slowly.

That global campaign has been echoed by Hollywood celebrities.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS ANGELINA JOLIE SAYING:

"Like everybody, I'm absolutely sickened by it and the thought of them out there right now, terrified and being abused and sold. It's infuriating and it kind of goes beyond understanding that somebody could do this and yet I think it speaks of a bigger problem which is that because of a lack of impunity and because people believe they can get away with this, people will commit these kind of crimes. And not only do they believe that girls shouldn't have an education which is absolutely wrong, it is appalling."

But this week another eight more girls were seized...and they're reports at least 125 people have been killed in the latest attack by the violent Islamist group, underlining how far Nigerian security forces are from protecting their citizens and freeing those girls.

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