Four of the more than 200 Nigerian girls kidnapped by militants in April have escaped their captors, a Nigerian Ministry of Information official confirmed to NBC News.
The schoolgirls have been missing more than a month since they were abducted by Boko Haram, an Islamist terror organization, which first vowed to sell them into slavery and then said it would free them only in exchange for the release of militant prisoners.
Education commissioner Musa Inuwa told Reuters by telephone the four girls had been reunited with their parents, but he declined to provide the wire service with additional details of their escape.
The reports of the kidnapping have sparked global outrage. The United States has deployed surveillance drones, spy planes and roughly 30 civilian and military specialists to aid Nigeria's security forces in the hunt for the missing schoolgirls.
Nigeria has said it knows the whereabouts of the abducted girls. But U.S. military officials were quick to say that they could not confirm the report.
NBC
Related stories: Nigerian military claims to have found location of kidnapped schoolgirls
Video - The state of Nigerian governance and Boko Haram
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Nigeria draw with Scotland 2-2 in international football friendly
Substitute Uche Nwofor's late strike denied Scotland victory against Nigeria at Craven Cottage.
Charlie Mulgrew skilfully diverted James Morrison's strike into the net to give Scotland the lead before Michael Uchebo levelled with a deflected shot.
An own goal by Azubuike Egwuekwe turned the match back in the Scots' favour early in the second half.
World Cup-bound Nigeria pressed for a second equaliser and were rewarded when Nwofor fired home on the turn.
Gordon Strachan's men were bidding to become the first Scotland side since 1951 to win four successive away matches.
And they started brightly at the neutral venue with Ikechi Anya firing a low drive on to the post via the heel of Kunle Odunlami.
Scotland's new-look back four, which included Dundee United's Andrew Robertson making his first international start, found themselves under pressure when they conceded possession to Uchebo but Allan McGregor saved the shot.
Having narrowly escaped on that occasion, Strachan's men sought to capitalise on a set piece and duly delivered.
Shaun Maloney and Anya teed up Morrison for a low shot that was looped over goalkeeper Austin Ejide by the outside of Mulgrew's left boot.
The ball was in the Nigeria net again when Grant Hanley rose to meet another Maloney corner but English referee Lee Probert awarded a foul against the Scotland defender for his challenge on Ejide.
Nigeria gradually worked their way back into the match and Shola Ameobi, recently released by Newcastle, volleyed Ejike Uzoenyi's into the hands of McGregor.
But the Scottish keeper could do nothing when Uchebo's shot spun into the net off Hanley.
In the first of many substitutions, Derby's Chris Martin made his Scotland debut at the start of the second half as a replacement for Steven Naismith.
McGregor got down well to block an Ameobi shot and Scotland once again found themselves ahead after an important save from the Hull stopper.
Hutton's driven cross was knocked back towards goal by Egwuekwe and Odunlami could not prevent the ball from crossing the line.
At the other end, substitutes Nosa Igiebor and Peter Odemwingie played a one-two before the former drew a save from McGregor.
Maloney then converted Hutton's low cross but was correctly flagged offside.
Chances continued to come Scotland's way and George Boyd, on for Morrison, set up Martin for a strike that Ejide blocked.
Martin's club-mate Craig Forsyth joined the fray for his Scotland debut when the impressive Robertson came off, while the introduction of Celtic's Efe Ambrose for Odunlami was Nigeria's sixth change.
Nwofor, who had replaced Ameobi, twice threatened with headers before he capitalised on some slack defending to net the final goal.
Hanley's attempted clearance ricocheted off Nnamdi Oduamadi into Nwofor's path and the Heerenveen forward drilled past McGregor from close range.
BBC
Related story: Nigeria vs Scotland international friendly marred by match-fixing claims
Charlie Mulgrew skilfully diverted James Morrison's strike into the net to give Scotland the lead before Michael Uchebo levelled with a deflected shot.
An own goal by Azubuike Egwuekwe turned the match back in the Scots' favour early in the second half.
World Cup-bound Nigeria pressed for a second equaliser and were rewarded when Nwofor fired home on the turn.
Gordon Strachan's men were bidding to become the first Scotland side since 1951 to win four successive away matches.
And they started brightly at the neutral venue with Ikechi Anya firing a low drive on to the post via the heel of Kunle Odunlami.
Scotland's new-look back four, which included Dundee United's Andrew Robertson making his first international start, found themselves under pressure when they conceded possession to Uchebo but Allan McGregor saved the shot.
Having narrowly escaped on that occasion, Strachan's men sought to capitalise on a set piece and duly delivered.
Shaun Maloney and Anya teed up Morrison for a low shot that was looped over goalkeeper Austin Ejide by the outside of Mulgrew's left boot.
The ball was in the Nigeria net again when Grant Hanley rose to meet another Maloney corner but English referee Lee Probert awarded a foul against the Scotland defender for his challenge on Ejide.
Nigeria gradually worked their way back into the match and Shola Ameobi, recently released by Newcastle, volleyed Ejike Uzoenyi's into the hands of McGregor.
But the Scottish keeper could do nothing when Uchebo's shot spun into the net off Hanley.
In the first of many substitutions, Derby's Chris Martin made his Scotland debut at the start of the second half as a replacement for Steven Naismith.
McGregor got down well to block an Ameobi shot and Scotland once again found themselves ahead after an important save from the Hull stopper.
Hutton's driven cross was knocked back towards goal by Egwuekwe and Odunlami could not prevent the ball from crossing the line.
At the other end, substitutes Nosa Igiebor and Peter Odemwingie played a one-two before the former drew a save from McGregor.
Maloney then converted Hutton's low cross but was correctly flagged offside.
Chances continued to come Scotland's way and George Boyd, on for Morrison, set up Martin for a strike that Ejide blocked.
Martin's club-mate Craig Forsyth joined the fray for his Scotland debut when the impressive Robertson came off, while the introduction of Celtic's Efe Ambrose for Odunlami was Nigeria's sixth change.
Nwofor, who had replaced Ameobi, twice threatened with headers before he capitalised on some slack defending to net the final goal.
Hanley's attempted clearance ricocheted off Nnamdi Oduamadi into Nwofor's path and the Heerenveen forward drilled past McGregor from close range.
BBC
Related story: Nigeria vs Scotland international friendly marred by match-fixing claims
Video - Boko Haram raid on military base leaves 24 dead
At least 24 people have reportedly been killed by Boko Haram fighters at a military base in Nigeria. The attack happened in the northeastern town of Buni Yadi, in Yobe State. It is close to where Boko Haram gunmen fired at a high school in February, killing at least 59 students. The armed group has been fighting to create an Islamic state in Nigeria's mainly Muslim north.
Related stories:Nigerian police received warning hours before fatal car bombing in Jos, Nigeria
Market attack leaves 20 dead in Maiduguri, Nigeria
Nigeria vs Scotland international friendly marred by match-fixing claims
The Scottish Football Association has been contacted by the National Crime Agency about a match-fixing threat to Wednesday's friendly against Nigeria.
Scotland are playing Nigeria at Fulham's Craven Cottage ground.
The SFA has released a statement saying it is liaising with the relevant authorities and is preparing for the match as normal.
Leading bookmakers contacted by BBC Sport say they are unaware of any specific threat to the game.
While they are exercising extra vigilance for any suspicious betting patterns, a spokesperson for one bookmaker said: "We've seen no evidence of the reported issues and we wouldn't expect to.
"This sort of activity will be executed in the illegal betting market, and is unlikely to be seen in the UK or European regulated sector."
The BBC has learned that no Scotland players are under suspicion. It is also understood a number of other friendly matches on Wednesday have been highlighted as games potentially at risk.
A spokesperson for the NCA explained: "The NCA will from time to time provide operational detail necessary for public reassurance purposes.
"It does not routinely confirm or deny the existence of specific operations or provide ongoing commentary on operational activity."
Football's world governing body, Fifa, added in a statement: "We are aware of the claims published recently.
"Generally speaking, we are not in a position to comment or provide information on any match-manipulation investigations that are ongoing so as not to compromise investigations, nor do we provide any comments as to whether or not any investigations are under way"
"It would only be after a decision has been taken by the Fifa disciplinary committee or Fifa ethics committee and first notified to the parties concerned that Fifa would be in a position to communicate the contents of that decision publicly."
News of the threat came as a shock to Nigeria defender Efe Ambrose, who plays for Scottish champions Celtic.
"I'm surprised, just like everyone," he said. "This kind of thing is not good, but I don't think something is going on around this game."
BBC
Related stories: Nigeria Super Eagles move up to 45th in FIFA rankings
Scotland are playing Nigeria at Fulham's Craven Cottage ground.
The SFA has released a statement saying it is liaising with the relevant authorities and is preparing for the match as normal.
Leading bookmakers contacted by BBC Sport say they are unaware of any specific threat to the game.
While they are exercising extra vigilance for any suspicious betting patterns, a spokesperson for one bookmaker said: "We've seen no evidence of the reported issues and we wouldn't expect to.
"This sort of activity will be executed in the illegal betting market, and is unlikely to be seen in the UK or European regulated sector."
The BBC has learned that no Scotland players are under suspicion. It is also understood a number of other friendly matches on Wednesday have been highlighted as games potentially at risk.
A spokesperson for the NCA explained: "The NCA will from time to time provide operational detail necessary for public reassurance purposes.
"It does not routinely confirm or deny the existence of specific operations or provide ongoing commentary on operational activity."
Football's world governing body, Fifa, added in a statement: "We are aware of the claims published recently.
"Generally speaking, we are not in a position to comment or provide information on any match-manipulation investigations that are ongoing so as not to compromise investigations, nor do we provide any comments as to whether or not any investigations are under way"
"It would only be after a decision has been taken by the Fifa disciplinary committee or Fifa ethics committee and first notified to the parties concerned that Fifa would be in a position to communicate the contents of that decision publicly."
News of the threat came as a shock to Nigeria defender Efe Ambrose, who plays for Scottish champions Celtic.
"I'm surprised, just like everyone," he said. "This kind of thing is not good, but I don't think something is going on around this game."
BBC
Related stories: Nigeria Super Eagles move up to 45th in FIFA rankings
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Nigerian police received warning hours before fatal car bombing in Jos, Nigeria
Traders in the market in Nigeria's central city of Jos, where two explosions left more than 130 people dead, said police failed to act after traders warned them about an abandoned car hours before the bombings.
"Our members reported to the police that they noticed the presence of the (Peugeot) J5 bus parked early morning on that fateful date, and we don't know the owner," said Kabiru Muhammad Idris, a member of the traders welfare committee at the Terminus market in Jos, the capital of Plateau state. "When the police came, they removed the plate number of the J5 Bus."
Idris, whose testimony was backed by other traders, said police didn't check the contents of the bus that later exploded.
Plateau state police spokeswoman Felicia Anslem, denied the allegations.
"No one informed the police about the J5 bus that was allegedly parked," Anslem said, adding that traffic is high around the area so "there is no way a car could have been parked there from morning til evening." The explosion also took place in the center of the road, she said.
A second explosion followed the bomb from the bus on May 20, boosting the number of casualties as first respondents arrived.
This isn't the first time that security forces were accused of ignoring tips about imminent attacks or allegedly declining to take action to prevent them.
Amnesty International said the authorities failed to act even though they were warned hours before Boko Haram militants kidnapped more than 300 schoolgirls from the remote town of Chibok in April.
Four days after the dual explosions, another attack was carried out in Jos, killing three people.
No one claimed responsibility for the attacks, though they carried the marks of Boko Haram, the Islamic extremist group that killed thousands since it began its violent campaign in 2009 to impose Islamic law on Nigeria.
The West African country is the most populous in Africa, with more than 170 million people almost evenly divided between a mainly Muslim north and a largely Christian south.
AP
Related stories: Twin bombings in Jos, Nigeria leaves at least 118 dead
Video - Fatality count in Abuja bomb blast rises to 75
"Our members reported to the police that they noticed the presence of the (Peugeot) J5 bus parked early morning on that fateful date, and we don't know the owner," said Kabiru Muhammad Idris, a member of the traders welfare committee at the Terminus market in Jos, the capital of Plateau state. "When the police came, they removed the plate number of the J5 Bus."
Idris, whose testimony was backed by other traders, said police didn't check the contents of the bus that later exploded.
Plateau state police spokeswoman Felicia Anslem, denied the allegations.
"No one informed the police about the J5 bus that was allegedly parked," Anslem said, adding that traffic is high around the area so "there is no way a car could have been parked there from morning til evening." The explosion also took place in the center of the road, she said.
A second explosion followed the bomb from the bus on May 20, boosting the number of casualties as first respondents arrived.
This isn't the first time that security forces were accused of ignoring tips about imminent attacks or allegedly declining to take action to prevent them.
Amnesty International said the authorities failed to act even though they were warned hours before Boko Haram militants kidnapped more than 300 schoolgirls from the remote town of Chibok in April.
Four days after the dual explosions, another attack was carried out in Jos, killing three people.
No one claimed responsibility for the attacks, though they carried the marks of Boko Haram, the Islamic extremist group that killed thousands since it began its violent campaign in 2009 to impose Islamic law on Nigeria.
The West African country is the most populous in Africa, with more than 170 million people almost evenly divided between a mainly Muslim north and a largely Christian south.
AP
Related stories: Twin bombings in Jos, Nigeria leaves at least 118 dead
Video - Fatality count in Abuja bomb blast rises to 75
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