The director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., declared Thursday that the kidnapping in Nigeria of a large number of schoolgirls by Boko Haram terrorists is yet another of the “horrible forms of violence long typical of this group”.
He continued, “The denial of any respect for the lives and dignity of the human person, even the most innocent, vulnerable and defenceless, calls for the strongest condemnation and elicits the most heartfelt compassion for the victims, as well as horror at the physical and spiritual suffering and the incredible humiliation inflicted upon them. We add our voice to the many appeals for their liberation and their restoration to a normal condition of life. We hope and pray that Nigeria, thanks to the commitment of all those who are able to help, may find a way to end a situation of conflict and hateful terrorism which is a source of incalculable suffering”.
On April 14–15, approximately 276 female students were kidnapped from the Government Secondary School in the town of Chibok in Borno State, Nigeria. The kidnappings were claimed by the Islamist terrorist group, Boko Haram.
