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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Nigerian schools remain closed amid Boko Haram threats |
| 2014-07-15 |
| [USATODAY] Three months ago, Nigeria closed schools in the northern state of Borno to protect students from bombings by Islamic forces of Evil who later kidnapped 300 girls. Amina Gambo attends class behind closed doors in a friend's house. "I will try and cover the remaining syllabus at home with the help of my teacher," the 15-year-old says. "I have not gone to school for the last two years." She says, "I really need to prepare for exams next year. I wish somebody could transfer me to another school." As the search for 219 girls remaining in captivity continues, schools are closed for 120,000 children in Borno because of the Boko Haram ... not to be confused with Procol Harum, Harum Scarum, possibly to be confused with Helter Skelter. The Nigerian version of al-Qaeda and the Taliban rolled together and flavored with a smigeon of distinctly Subsaharan ignorance and brutality... terrorist group's murderous campaign to shut down all education except for classes that teach strict Islamic values. The group's name means "Western education is sinful" in the African language Hausa. Monday, a global champion of education for girls, Pak activist Malala Yousafzai, celebrated her 17th birthday in Nigeria to promote efforts to release the girls kidnapped April 15. "My birthday wish this year is 'Bring Back Our Girls' now and alive," Malala said, using the social media slogan that has been picked up around the world to demand freedom for the girls. Malala was shot in the head by a member of the Taliban, another hard boy Islamic group, because of her campaign to ensure education for girls. This past weekend, a major bridge on a northeast Nigeria ... a particularly crimson stretch of Islam's bloody border... n highway was bombed, the suspected work of Boko Haram to limit access to its base camps in the Sambisa Forest, where the government says some of the kidnapped girls may be held. Nigerian authorities closed schools in Borno in March after a bomb detonated in a crowded marketplace in Bama, killing at least 20 people. Boko Haram is suspected in that attack, as well. |
| Posted by:Fred |