More than nine months after no fewer than 200 school
girls were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents inside their school hostel
in Chibok, Borno State, the Australia government has revealed that they
have repeatedly offered the Nigerian government their support to help
find the kidnapped schoolgirls, but the offers have not been taken up.
Making the disclosure on Tuesday was Australian Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, adding that the Australian government had made no fewer than four offers to help Nigeria find the schoolgirls, who were kidnapped by the radical Islamist group in April last year.
“Nigeria has welcomed our offers but hasn’t made any request for specific assistance,” Ms Bishop said. “The international community stands ready to work with the Nigerian government to assist in its efforts to counter terrorism and implement counter-radicalisation programmes.”
Bishop made the comment while reacting to reports that at least one
girl as young as 10 has been used as a suicide bomber by the Boko Haram
sect in northern Nigeria.
Making the disclosure on Tuesday was Australian Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, adding that the Australian government had made no fewer than four offers to help Nigeria find the schoolgirls, who were kidnapped by the radical Islamist group in April last year.
“Nigeria has welcomed our offers but hasn’t made any request for specific assistance,” Ms Bishop said. “The international community stands ready to work with the Nigerian government to assist in its efforts to counter terrorism and implement counter-radicalisation programmes.”

Julie Bishop