Nigerian Gov. asking the Public for Help Finding More than 200 Schoolgirls

by WAKA Action 8 News

The Nigerian government is asking the public for help in finding more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped on April 15th.  This comes as the U-S is sending advisors to assist in the search. 

Craig Boswell has the latest from the State Department.

The Islamic extremist group Boko Haram claimed responsibility for their abduction and vowed to sell the girls as wives.

“I SUSPECT THEY’RE BEING USED AS SEX SLAVES AND SUFFERING VERY TERRIBLE CONDITIONS.”

Adotei Akwei is with Amnesty International.. and says it may be too late to find the girls.

“IT’S NOW BEEN THREE WEEKS AND THERE’S BEEN NO…ANY…NO SIGN OF WHERE THEY ARE OR ANY FURTHER COMMUNICATION SO IT’S NOT LOOKING VERY OPTIMISTIC.”

Secretary of State John Kerry spoke on the phone with the Nigerian president to firm up an US offer of help.. it’s still not clear when the team will deploy.

(SOT:  Michael Morell/CBS News Sr. Security Contributor)

“WE CAN PROVIDE INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT.  WE CAN PROVIDE INTELLIGENCE GUIDANCE ON TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THESE GIRLS ARE.  AND THEN ONCE WE FIND THEM WE CAN HELP THE NIGERIANS TRY TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION.”

Morell says the Nigerian military doesn’t have the ability to defeat Boko Haram.. and distraught parents say the military is doing nothing to find their daughters.

Craig Boswell, CBS News, The State Department.>

Boko Haram is fighting to install an Islamic state in Nigeria.  An estimated 15-hundred people have been killed in their attacks so far this year.