The British government has said it will not make public details of its intelligence operations with the Nigerian on efforts to rescue the Chibok schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram.
In the Hansard posted on the British parliament’s website, a lawmaker, David Alton, had asked the British government what it was doing to free the abducted pupils.
Alton asked: “Her Majesty’s Government, what progress has been made in freeing the Nigerian girls abducted by Boko Haram; what information do they have about their wellbeing and fate; and what has been done to seek the referral of Boko Haram to the International Criminal Court for committing crimes against humanity?”
Responding to these questions, the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Joyce Anelay, stated that the David Cameron administration was supporting Nigeria in its efforts to find the kidnapped girls but that she would not say anything on the results achieved so far.
She said, “The UK is supporting Nigerian authorities in trying to establish the girls’ location through the provision of surveillance assets and intelligence expertise. We do not comment on the results of ongoing intelligence operations.”
On whether the terrorist group had been referred to the ICC for prosecution, Anelay said, “Nigeria is a state party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The ICC Office of the Prosecutor has opened a preliminary examination into the situation in Nigeria.
“It has determined that there is a reasonable basis to believe that crimes against humanity have been committed, namely acts of murder and persecution attributed to Boko Haram.
“The prosecutor is assessing the gravity of these crimes and is liaising with the Nigerian authorities on their domestic efforts to hold individuals accountable.”
In May this year, the prosecutor of the ICC, Fatou Bensouda, had said no stone should be left unturned to bring Boko Haram insurgents to book.
He said, “I am deeply troubled and alarmed by disturbing reports of alleged abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in Borno State, Nigeria. Such acts shock the conscience of humanity and could constitute crimes that fall within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
“I share the agonising pain of the parents of the abducted girls, as well as their hope that the ongoing national search and rescue efforts will result in the swift and safe return of their children.
“International assistance should be made readily available to bolster such efforts, as required by the national authorities.”
The Islamic sect had abducted the girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State on April 14, 2014. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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