PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Nigeria (22 October 2014)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Nigerian government about Nigerian schoolchildren abducted in April 2014; and if he will make a statement.

Asked by:
Gareth Thomas (Labour)

We continue to work closely with the Nigerian authorities and our other partners in the search for the abducted Chibok girls. On 3 September, my Hon Friend, the Member for Southend and Rochford East (James Duddridge MP), the Minister for Africa led the UK delegation to the Abuja ministerial meeting on security in Nigeria. At this meeting, he emphasised the importance of regional coordination between Nigeria and its neighbours in defeating Boko Haram and locating the girls. The Prime Minister has stressed to President Jonathan our continued commitment to helping the Nigerian Government find the girls. It is not yet clear what impact the recently announced ceasefire between the Nigerian security forces and Boko Haram might have on the missing Chibok girls. We are monitoring events closely.

Answered by:
Lord Swire (Conservative)
27 October 2014