Nigeria army 'knows where Boko Haram are holding girls'

The Nigerian military says it know where the girls
kidnapped by Boko Haram are but will not attempt a
rescue.
Nigeria's Chief of Defence Staff said it was "good
news for the parents," although he admitted the
military would not risk "going there with force".
More than 200 girls were abducted by Boko Haram
gunmen from their school in northern Nigeria in
April.
Earlier, the BBC learned that a deal to release some
of the girls was close but was called off by the
government.
The BBC's Will Ross in the capital, Abuja, says an
intermediary met leaders of the Islamist group and
visited the place where they were being held.
He says agreement was almost reached to release
50 of the girls in exchange for the release of 100
Boko Haram prisoners.
But the Nigerian government pulled out of the deal
after President Goodluck Jonathan attended a
conference on the crisis in Paris. The reasons for
the withdrawal are unclear.
Air Marshal Alex Badeh, front, said Nigeria would
"get the girls back"
Having not heard any official news before about the
search-an- rescue effort, the parents of the
abducted girls at least now have a glimmer of hope.
The Nigerian military says it knows where they are
being held by Boko Haram, but many Nigerians will
be sceptical about this statement. It is impossible
to verify, and throughout the conflict the
government and the military have issued many
reports totally at odds with eyewitnesses' accounts
in northern Nigeria.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh,
gave no details about where the abducted students
were being held or whether they were in one
location.
Even if they have all been located, getting them out
safely using force would be extremely dangerous
and that is why many analysts suggest a negotiated
settlement is still preferable.
Nigeria's government is under pressure to do more
to tackle the group and bring about the girls'
release.
Thousands of people have died since Boko Haram
began a violent campaign against the Nigerian
government in 2009 and in the subsequent security
crackdown.
'Good news'
Chief of Defence Staff Air Marshal Alex Badeh said
on Monday that "the good news for the parents of
the girls is that we know where they are" but said
he couldn't reveal the location.
"But where they are held, can we go there with
force? We can't kill our girls in the name of trying to
get them back," he added.
A deal to release some of the girls was close but
President Jonathan pulled out after the Paris
summit
Mr Badeh was addressing demonstrators who had
marched to the ministry of defence in Abuja in
support of the military's fight against Boko Haram.
"Nobody should come and say the Nigerian military
does not know what it's doing," he told the crowd.
"We know what we are doing.
"The president is solidly behind us. The president
has empowered us to do the work."
The girls, who are mainly Christian, are thought to
be held in a remote forested area of the north-
eastern Borno state, close to the border with Chad
and Cameroon.
Nigeria previously insisted it would not agree to free
Boko Haram members in return for their release but
the information ministry insisted that all options
were on the table.
The UK, the US, China and France are among those
countries to have sent teams of experts and
equipment to help to locate the girls.
Who are Boko Haram?
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has
threatened to treat the girls as slaves
Founded in 2002
Initially focused on opposing "Western"
education - Boko Haram means "Western
education is forbidden" in the Hausa language
Launched military operations in 2009 to create
Islamic state
Thousands killed, mostly in north-eastern
Nigeria - also attacked police and UN
headquarters in capital, Abuja
Some three million people affected
Declared terrorist group by US in 2013
Who are Boko Haram?
Profile: Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau
Why Nigeria has not defeated Boko Haram