The Nigerian government has indicated it is ready to negotiate with the Islamist militant group Boko Haram over the release of more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped last month.
We didn’t get the help that we needed from the Government when we needed it. It took them three weeks to even say anything.
More than 270 girls were kidnapped almost a month ago.
Radio New Zealand reports that a committee has been set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to find ways of talking to Boko Haram.
The leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, issued a video on Tuesday offering to release the schoolgirls in exchange for the group's prisoners held by the government.
Bisi Olateru-Olagbegi, the Executive Director of the Womens Consortium of Nigeria told Nine to Noon people just want the girls back. “For most Nigerians, the parents and those of us that are concerned I think [the involvement of the international community] is a welcome event, that we need to have external help. Because you see that we didn’t get the help that we needed from the Government when we needed it. It took them three weeks to even say anything.”
With little action from the Nigerian government and international community, people have turned to social media to organise protests and express their frustration.
In New Zealand, a Year 13 student at Columba College in Dunedin has organised a “Ribbon Day” campaign on Facebook, as an awareness campaign to support the return of the girls. Caitlin Addison spoke to Morning Report:
In Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin rallies were held to walk in support of the girls.
Two protesters outside Parliament Photo: Lena Hesselgrave/The Wireless
Among those who marched were 270 Wellington schoolgirls who wanted to illustrate the scale of the abduction, Radio New Zealand reports. The crowd heard speeches from Wellington's Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, the Education Minister Hekia Parata, and the Labour leader David Cunliffe, as well as rally organisers.
Ms Wade-Brown said the abduction came at a time when New Zealand students were thinking of their futures. In Christchurch, supporters gathered at the Christchurch cathedral.
The Wireless’ Lena Hesselgrave and Alexander Robertson followed the march in Wellington.
