#Bringbackourgirls: UK foreign office minister to meet with Nigeria government

Mark Simmonds, The United Kingdom’s Foreign Office Minister will meet with the government of Nigeria on Tuesday to discuss further on how UK can further assist in the rescue of the abducted girls.

The meeting is to explore further assistance and advise the UK can provide to support Nigeria’s effort in the rescue of the girls.

The UK team of experts, in Abuja since May 9, is co-operating closely with the government and other international partners to provide assistance to Nigeria in dealing with this abduction and addressing longer term challenges.

Simmonds said:” This is a horrific and heartbreaking situation and the UK wants to do all it can to offer support to the Nigerian efforts to secure the release of the kidnapped girls. We condemn the actions of Boko Haram and all that they stand for. Monday’s callous and shocking video of some of the missing schoolgirls will only make it harder for their families to deal with this agonizing ordeal. This shows exactly why the UK and others have sent teams to help the Nigerians in their efforts to find them and bring them home.

“Continuing murders and abductions of school children, particularly girls in Nigeria by Boko Haram are a stark reminder of the threat faced by women and girls in conflict prone areas. Young children are being denied universal freedoms such as an education. They are being denied opportunity and the ability to live their lives as they choose. Girls are being threatened with sexual violence in forced marriages.

“I look forward to discussing further ways that the UK and international partners can work with Nigeria in helping them secure the girls’ release, as well as how we can assist with economic and developmental solutions to address Boko Haram in the longer term.”

British High Commissioner, Andrew Pocock, said: “The abductions have been traumatic for the Nigerian people. Britain, as a friend of Nigeria, is working urgently to help the Nigerian authorities in their efforts to find the girls and tackle longer term challenges in the north, such as education and stability.”

#Bringbackourgirls: UK foreign office minister to meet with Nigeria government