A Nigerian Islamic extremist leader has claimed the kidnapping of more than 300 teenage school girls who were abducted from a school in the remote northeast nearly three weeks ago.

Abudbakar Shekau of the Boko Haram terrorist group threatened to attack more schools and abduct more girls.

From Associated Press:

“I abducted your girls,” said the leader of Boko Haram, which means “Western education is sinful.

He described the girls as “slaves” and said “By Allah, I will sell them in the marketplace.” The hour-long video starts with fighters lofting automatic rifles and shooting in the air as they chant “Allahu akbar!” or “God is great.”

Read more at Associated Press

Authorities could not determine whether the video was made before or after reports emerged last week that some of the girls had been forced to marry their abductors, who paid a price of $12. Others have been carried into Chad and Cameroon.

In the video, Shekau says the girls “will remain slaves with us.” Officials believe the statement is in reference to the ancient jihadi custom of enslaving women captured in a holy war, who then can be used as sex slaves.

An intermediary said Boko Haram is ready to negotiate ransoms for the girls. Two are reported to have died of snakebites and roughly 20 are ill. The Christian girls have been forced to convert to Islam.

Of the more than 300 girls taken, 276 remain in captivity and 53 escaped.

Such an unfortunate situation.

Check back for updates.

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