A video released by the radical Islamist group, Boko Haram, appears to show some of the schoolgirls abducted from the northern Nigerian town of Chibok more than two years ago.
The footage, which is undated, reportedly shows some 50 girls with a masked gunman who demands the release of Boko Haram fighters in exchange for the release of the girls, saying, in Hausa, that the girls will “never” be returned if the government does not release them. The gunman also claims that some of the girls have been killed in air strikes.
Parents of some of the missing girls have confirmed that their daughters are in the video.
Samuel Yaga, father of abducted schoolgirl Serah Samuel, confirmed to the BBC that his daughter was in the video, saying her saw her sitting down.
“The fact is we are overwhelmed with a feeling of depression,” he said. “It’s like being beaten and being stopped from crying. You helplessly watch your daughter but there is nothing you can do. It’s a real heartache. Those who are still alive – we want them back. We want them back irrespective of their condition.”
Boko Haram is believed to still hold more than 200 of the 276 girls, many of whom are Christian, who were seized from the school. It is feared some of those being held have been forced to marry their captors.
The video is the first since CNN obtained footage in April purportedly showing 15 of the girls.
The Nigerian Government has said it is doing everything possible to secure the release of the girls.
