Nigeria: Militants release most of the girls kidnapped from Dapchi March 21 /update 2

Event

Government officials confirmed on Wednesday, March 21, that almost all of the girls abducted in Dapchi (Yobe state) have been released. Militants reportedly drove 101 of the girls back to the village after negotiations with the government. According to some of the victims, five of the girls died while in captivity and one is still being held by the militants. Officials denied that a ransom had been paid for their release.

Context

Suspected Boko Haram fighters abducted 110 girls from Dapchi during a raid on February 19. One of the victims told reporters that the militants said they will release the last remaining captive after she converts from Christianity to Islam.

The northeastern region of Nigeria is highly susceptible to attacks by Boko Haram, which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) in March 2015 and formally adopted the name of Islamic State in West Africa. While Nigerian military forces advanced against Boko Haram insurgents last year and pushed them out of much of their previously claimed territory, attacks by the insurgent group have again been on the rise since June 2017.

Advice

The security environment in Nigeria is complex and particularly poor in the northeast and extreme south of the country due to the presence of armed groups, high crime rates, and the risk of kidnapping. Some Western governments consequently advise against travel to certain areas of the northeast (e.g. states of Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, and Jigawa as well as parts of Kano and Adamawa states) and the southern Niger Delta region (e.g. states of Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers). Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel to these areas.