Boko Haram Leader Makes Fresh Demand

Boko Haram has released a video demanding the release of all militants held by the government in exchange for the return of about 220 still-missing Nigerian girls, many of whom appear in the video praying and wearing full-length hijabs, according to Agence-France Presse.

AFP, which obtained the video, reports that it features the Islamist militant leader Abubakar Shekau speaking for about 17 minutes before showing footage of some of the missing girls praying in an unknown location. In the video, Shekau claims that those abducted have converted to Islam.

The BBC adds that three girls speak during the video. Two say they were Christians who have converted to Islam, and one simply described herself as a Muslim. The three appear calm and one said they have not been harmed by the violent abductors.

Culled from YAHOO NEWS