Nigeria seeks answers to mass kidnappings one year on

(Vatican Radio) One year after the kidnapping of more than 200 Nigerian students by Boko Haram, the archbishop of Jos says the people of Nigeria nonetheless remain hopeful that the girls will be found.

Listen to Ann Schneible’s full interview with Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama:

“We have hope, and keep praying , that one day we shall receive the good news that they are somewhere, that they have been found, they are well, and they are reunited to their families,” Archbishop Kaigama told Vatican Radio.

276 girls were abducted by Boko Haram from a secondary school in Chibok in the country's Northeast on 14-15 April.

The incident drew international attention to the humanitarian crisis caused by the Islamic extremist group’s attempt to establish a caliphate in the country.

To date, 219 of the girls remain missing.

“We do not even know conditions in which they’re surviving. We do not know even if they are alive and what has happened to them,” Archbishop Kaigama said.

A march is expected in the capital, Abuja, on Tuesday to mark the one-year anniversary of the kidnapping.

Nigeria's President-elect Muhammadu Buhari on Monday vowed to make every effort to free the schoolgirls, but admitted it was not clear whether they would ever be found.

Archbishop Kaigama said the people remain hopeful that the girls might be located, especially under the leadership of Buhari, who will step-up as president on 29 May.

Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, who lost the recent election to Buhari, received widespread criticism for his inability to mobilize efforts to rescue the girls.

Their name meaning “Western education is forbidden,” Boko Haram is opposed to Christianity for its association with Western education. However, Archbishop Kaigama said the group is also opposed to other forms of Islam.

“The aim of Boko Haram is to destabilize, and create a situation of anarchy,” he said.

 “They are literally against everybody and everything except themselves.”

Despite the ongoing threat posed by Boko Haram, he said Nigerians remain undeterred.

“Nigerians are determined to ensure they cling on to what is of value to them.”