Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 November 2014
104. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress to date in the international community’s efforts to bring about the release of girls abducted by Boko Haram; if contact continues to be made with the Nigerian authorities in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45518/14]
View answer106. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which he and his colleagues at EU and UN level continue to put pressure on the relevant authorities to bring about the release of the school girls abducted in Nigeria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45521/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 106 together.
I have strongly condemned the abduction of more than 200 young girls by Boko Haram from a school in the Nigerian town of Chibok in April. I am also appalled by continuing reports of other violent attacks perpetrated since then by Boko Haram, including the explosion on 10th November at a secondary school in Yobe State in North-Eastern Nigeria which killed some 47 students and injured dozens more as they gathered for morning assembly.
I have given my full support to the clear demands of the United Nations Secretary General and the High Representative of the European Union that the girls abducted in Chibok be released and that those responsible be brought to justice.
Following the release of 27 hostages by Boko Haram in a separate case in Cameroon on 10th October, the Government of Nigeria announced that it was engaged in peace talks with an intermediary and that a ceasefire by Boko Haram had been agreed. However, it now appears that the talks have ended and that Boko Haram has intensified its campaign in North East Nigeria. I am deeply disappointed that hopes that the 200 girls would be released as a part of ceasefire arrangements in October have not been realised.
The EU as well as several individual EU Member States, the UN and the USA, continue to assist the Nigerian authorities in strengthening their ability to provide security and to combat terrorism. Our Embassy in Abuja, working locally in cooperation with the EU and other key partners, remains in close contact with the Nigerian authorities on the difficult issues involved, given that they have primary responsibility for securing the safe release of the missing schoolgirls as well as addressing the broader security situation.
