Nigeria state governor "has information" on abducted girls

 

The governor of Nigeria's Borno state says he has information on the whereabouts of about 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by Islamist group Boko Haram.

Governor Kashim Shettima said he had passed reports of the sightings of the girls to the military for verification.

Mr Shettima added that he did not think the girls had been taken across the border to Chad or Cameroon.

Earlier, France's president offered to host a summit on Boko Haram.

"I suggested, with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, a meeting of Nigeria's neighbouring countries" Francois Hollande said.

"If the countries agree, it should take place next Saturday" he added.

Countries neighbouring Nigeria, such as Cameroon, Niger and Chad, would be invited to the security summit.

Aides said the US, UK and EU would also be likely to attend.

The US, UK and France have already pledged technical assistance to the Nigerian government.

Meanwhile, President Jonathan said an Israeli counter-terrorism team would arrive in Nigeria to help in searching for the schoolgirls, who were abducted last month.

Boko Haram has admitted capturing the girls, saying they should never have been in school and should get married instead. The group has also threatened to sell the girls as "slaves".

Boko Haram has been engaged in a violent campaign against the Nigerian government since 2009.
It is thought the majority of the girls are Christians, although a number of Muslims are among those who were taken.

Chibok, from where they were abducted, is a small community where families are made up of members of both faiths.