Boko Haram, the Islamic fundamentalist group, released another video Monday, showing the abducted schoolgirls.
The video obtained by Agence France-Presse, shows 100 of the 234 Nigerian schoolgirls who were kidnapped April 14 from Chibok village of the country's Borno state. Abubakar Shekau, the leader of the militant group demanded the release of all the arrested Boko Haram members in exchange for the kidnapped girls.
Girls wearing hijab were seen reciting the Quran. Two said they were Christians and converted to Islam after the abduction. Shekau said they will be held captive until all the Boko Haram prisoners are released. Reports claimed that the girls appeared to be calm and unharmed.
It was not revealed when and where the video was shot. However, the location seemed to be rural, according to BBC.
Last week, Boko Haram claimed responsibility for abducting the schoolgirls who were in the middle of their exams at the Government Girls Secondary School. Shekau had then threatened to sell them.
Some captives managed to escape. One girl who ran away from the captors recalled her experience. "When I observed that the men were a bit harsh, I became suspicious. I ran and jumped the fence then I climbed a tree close to the school and stayed there. One of the men followed me with torchlight and asked me to return but I did not answer him," the girl said, reports CHANNELS TV.
Protests by the parents have been launched in Nigeria demanding action against Boko Haram. President Jonathan previously said that they will try to find and release the girls at the earliest. He, however, confessed that he did not have a clue where they were.
The mass abduction caught worldwide attention. "Like millions of people across the globe, my husband and I are outraged and heartbroken,'' First lady Michelle Obama, said Saturday.
The Nigerian government requested assistance from the international community in finding the girls.
Senator Chuck Schumer appealed to the State Department to grant refugee status to those helping the abducted girls escape. Last week the State Department announced a $7 million reward for information about Abubakar Shekau, according to the New York Daily News.
The United Kingdom and France agreed to extend their support.
