[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 10753]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                               BOKO HARAM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Frankel) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I just returned from a 
congressional delegation trip to Nigeria, which was both eye-opening 
and moving.
  Nigeria is a country of huge possibilities. It is an oil rich nation, 
the largest in Africa, with a population that will surpass the United 
States by 2050. It is mired with corrupt political leaders and a 
weakened police and military, leading to a dire political climate of 
joblessness in the northeast and giving rise to a terrorist 
organization of mostly young men called Boko Haram. They burn schools, 
churches, mosques, and police stations. They rob, steal, kidnap, and 
murder innocent victims in their path. Their violence has resulted in 
the deaths of thousands in the last decade.
  Boko Haram's most notorious activity, which was the focus of our 
trip, was the recent kidnapping of 270 innocent girls attending school. 
These girls remain hidden--most likely scattered--and subjected to 
unimaginable crimes. This kidnapping received international attention 
for a short time, and then, like the girls, disappeared.
  While in Nigeria, we met with victims of Boko Haram, as well as 
political, military, and civic leaders. We learned of the horrific 
suffering at the hands of Boko Haram and the inability of the corrupt 
Nigerian government, which is involved in a competitive upcoming 
election, to stop this violence.
  Embedded in my mind are the young teen girls who told us harrowing 
stories of how they escaped Boko Haram terrorists while their friends, 
tragically, remained behind. We met with a weeping father of one such 
girl.
  I will never forget the story of a young mother who witnessed Boko 
Haram decapitate her husband's head and left her dying in the street 
with her throat slit. She survived physically, but has been left broken 
financially and, of course, psychologically.
  We spent time with a fusion team of Nigerian, U.S., British, and 
French military law enforcement put together to strategize the return 
of these girls.
  Now, Mr. Speaker, some quick observations of mine to a very 
complicated situation.
  As I have said before, some crimes against humanity are of the nature 
that knows no borders and require a response no matter where you live 
in the world. The kidnapping of 270 girls is such a crime. It cannot be 
treated just as a flavor of the week that is soon forgotten.
  That is why the United States and the international community must 
continue to apply pressure to the Nigerian government to do all it can 
to negotiate the safe return of these young girls to their families.
  For those citizens who want to join this fight, I join my colleague 
Frederica Wilson in asking people in this country and all over the 
world to tweet using #bringbackourgirls every day at 9 a.m.
  During our trip, Mr. Speaker, we called upon--and we should continue 
to call upon--the Nigerian government to set up a relief fund for the 
victims and the families of Boko Haram for the financial and medical 
care that they so need.
  The United States should continue our efforts with the fusion team 
and quickly respond to the team's request for approval of a strategic 
plan.
  Of course, Mr. Speaker, we must continue to advise Nigerian 
authorities on the need for transparency and honesty and the need to 
deal with the economic plight of their people and urge a free and fair 
upcoming election.
  As I said from the start, Mr. Speaker, Nigeria is a nation of great 
possibilities. It can one day be a giant economic partner for the 
United States and her allies, or it can become a safe haven for 
terrorists. We can keep it on the right path by bringing those girls 
home.

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