[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 158 (Tuesday, October 27, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1543-E1544]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 BOKO HARAM AND THE CHIBOK SCHOOLGIRLS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 27, 2015

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, the world was shocked as 276 
schoolgirls from the northeastern Nigerian town of Chibok were 
kidnapped by the Islamic militant group Boko Haram. In the days 
following this event, we learned that the military had four hours' 
warning of the attack, but failed to mobilize sufficient forces to 
fight off the attackers, who arrived at this predominantly Christian 
town in a convoy of vehicles. A military redeployment to find the girls 
two weeks later resulted in the massacre of at least 300 residents of 
the town of Gamboru Ngala.
   Since that time, the previous Nigerian Government made many 
announcements about freeing the kidnapped girls, none of which proved 
to be accurate. Hope had been raised last October by a government 
announcement of a cease-fire and release of the girls only to be dashed 
by increasing Boko Haram attacks and the continued captivity of the 
Chibok girls. In fact, Boko Haram kidnapped more girls in northeastern 
Nigeria, especially Christian girls.

[[Page E1544]]

   President Muhamadu Buhari has said he won't make promises about 
freeing these captives that he can't guarantee, but I expect he will 
make every effort to free the Chibok girls, as well as the many others 
taken by Boko Haram.
   I have met previously with young women who have escaped from Boko 
Haram, in Jos and Abuja, Nigeria, and here in the United States. They 
confirm the abuse of their sisters and mourn their loss as we do. I 
want to thank Emmanuel Ogebe for all his help in arranging these 
meetings and the programs allowing some of these young women to come to 
the United States for an education. An estimated 10,000 other Nigerian 
youth are prevented from being educated because of disruptions caused 
by Boko Haram.
   My subcommittee has held several hearings on Boko Haram and 
convinced the administration to declare Boko Haram a Foreign Terrorist 
Organization, which they announced at our November 13, 2013, hearing.
   I have since pressed the administration to use authorities under the 
FTO designation to investigate and identify for the Nigerian Government 
those who support Boko Haram. I also have worked to end the current 
roadblocks preventing U.S. counterterrorism training for Nigerian 
troops.
   During the past year, social media worldwide has exploded with the 
``Bring Back Our Girls'' campaign. I must compliment my colleague, 
Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, who has maintained her efforts to free 
the Chibok girls and all the others kidnapped by Boko Haram, while 
others have moved on to different issues.
   I have worked with Congresswoman Wilson to update her House 
Resolution 147, which focuses on bringing to an end the violence 
unleashed by Boko Haram and bringing material aid to those harmed by 
their attacks. We also have joined in this legislation to press 
initiatives I mentioned earlier. I hope my subcommittee and our 
committee can move this legislation to the floor soon to give a boost 
to U.S. efforts to help Nigeria end the reign of terror by Boko Haram.

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