The Petition of residents of Sedgefield,
Declares that 200 Nigerian school girls have been kidnapped by Boko Haram and further that the Petitioners believe that more could be done internationally to ensure their safe release.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the UK Government to do all in their power to ensure that the 200 kidnapped school girls are released and returned to their families.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Phil Wilson, Official Report, 5 June 2014; Vol. 582, c. 235.]
[P001356]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office, received 10 July 2014:
I understand the concerns expressed by those who have signed this petition. The abduction of over 250 schoolgirls in Chibok was a despicable crime and a cruel attempt to deny young Nigerians the freedom to learn and make their own choices in life. The Prime Minister, the Minister for Africa the hon. Member for Boston and Skegness (Mark Simmonds) and I have condemned this appalling act. I am deeply concerned that despite best efforts 219 of the schoolgirls remain missing. We continue to strive to find them.
To prevent similar abductions in future we must combat Boko Haram. This is why we and the international community are supporting the Nigerian authorities in tackling the scourge of terrorism. Through this, I hope we can start to bring peace and prosperity to northern Nigeria.
The British Government have played a leading role in the international response to the abduction of the Chibok school girls and the threat posed by Boko Haram. We have taken the following action:
On 18 April the Prime Minister and I offered support to our Nigerian counterparts. On 8 May the offer was accepted and a team of UK expert advisers visited Abuja.
On 14 May Minister for Africa Mark Simmonds agreed with President Jonathan our support would comprise a surveillance aircraft and a military team to work with the Nigerian, US and French military experts to analyse information on the girls’ location. The UK also pledged £1 million to the UN’s Safe Schools Initiative.
On 17 May I attended a meeting in Paris, also attended by Nigeria, its neighbours and international partners. This meeting agreed measures to strengthen regional counter-terrorism co-ordination.
On 12 June I hosted a follow up to the Paris meeting, in the margins of the Global Summit on Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict. The conclusions included increased levels of co-ordinated border patrols by Nigeria and its neighbours, continued work to place sanctions on Boko Haram and Ansaru and continued close co-operation to look for the abducted girls. The full conclusions are at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-announces-uk-support-following-ministerial-on-boko-haram.
The UK also announced a new package of support agreed with the US and France which included expanded military training and direct tactical assistance to the Nigerian Armed Forces and further assistance for regional security and intelligence co-operation; and
In the wake of the abductions the UK Mission at the UN in New York worked closely with international partners to have Boko Haram placed on the UN al-Qaeda sanctions list. This sent a powerful message of intent from the international community.
I do hope that this reply demonstrates the sincere efforts being made by members of the international community to respond to the abductions and to combat Boko Haram. Please be assured that the UK will remain committed to continuing this important work.