[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 21, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E806-E807]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CONDEMNING THE ABDUCTION OF FEMALE STUDENTS BY BOKO HARAM

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. MAXINE WATERS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 20, 2014

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I stand in support of H. Res. 573, 
condemning the abduction of female students by armed militants from the 
terrorist group known as Boko Haram in northeastern provinces of the 
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
  I am outraged by the abduction in April of over 270 innocent 
schoolgirls who were taken from their boarding school in Borno State, 
Nigeria. My thoughts and prayers remain with

[[Page E807]]

these students and their families as we seek their immediate safe 
return.
  I was horrified to watch Abubakar Shekau, the leader of the extreme 
Islamist group Boko Haram, admit in a video message he was responsible 
for this horrendous act. It was painful to hear him refer to these 
young innocent girls as ``slaves'' and threaten ``to sell them in the 
market.''
  According to media reports, Boko Haram has destroyed many Nigerian 
schools and killed dozens of students. Boko Haram continues to show an 
immoral disregard for the most fundamental of human rights, thus we 
must do all we can to aid in the student's safe return.
  No family should have to fear their children could be abducted and 
placed in the human trafficking market to be sold, raped or killed. 
Boko Haram has to be stopped and their leader Abubakar Shekau must be 
apprehended and brought to justice. The Nigerian government should use 
all means necessary to find the girls and return them to their 
families.
  I am encouraged that the U.S. government is already providing 
counterterrorism support, logistics, technical expertise and training 
to Nigerian investigators in this effort. I am glad Nigeria and four 
neighboring countries will share intelligence and border surveillance 
to find the students as we must combine our efforts to ensure their 
safe return. Additionally, I encourage the Nigerian government and 
leadership to strengthen efforts to protect children who are seeking an 
education as no student should fear for their life in an effort to 
further their education. We must work swiftly in an effort to find the 
girls and assure their safe return to their families.
  I have joined my colleagues in sending a letter to President Obama 
urging the Department of State to use every avenue possible to assist 
in the immediate recovery of the missing girls and to support the 
welfare and safety of all women and girls in Nigeria. I urge our 
international partners to join with us until the girls are safely 
reunited with their families and Boko Haram is brought to justice.

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