WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the U.S. State Department to take three critical steps in order to aid in the rescue of the 276 missing girls in Nigeria. Specifically, Schumer called on the State Department to: 1.) set up financial rewards for reliable information that leads to the location and return of these girls – a system that is already in place for information that leads to the capture of Boko Haram leaders; 2.) provide refugee status for any individual who is not a terrorist that helps find these girls; and 3.) place any individual who is discovered buying these girls, or harming them in any way, in the international Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment (TIDES) database, because they are aiding terrorists.
“The kidnappings in Nigeria are barbaric and gutless, and I am urging the U.S. State Department to take three critical steps to aid in the rescue of these innocent girls, particularly in light of the disturbingly inadequate response by the Nigerian government following the kidnappings. I am urging State to set up a reward for information that leads to the girls’ location and to provide refugee status to anyone that aids in their recovery, given the obvious danger that creates. It is also critical to make it loud and clear that anyone discovered buying or harming these girls will be put in our international terrorist database. This move by the State Department should encourage information-sharing and send a message that this inhumane and violent behavior – aimed at stopping young girls from educating themselves – will not be tolerated. It is bankrupt and backward worldview that, in the full light of day, will be rejected by the people of Nigeria – and people in every corner of the world who love their children.”
Schumer explained that already, the Secretary of State may offer rewards for information that leads to the arrest or conviction of anyone who plans, commits, or attempts international terrorist acts, that prevents such acts from occurring in the first place, that leads to the location of a key terrorist leader, or that disrupts terrorism financing. This applies to the members of Boko Haram. Schumer is urging the State Department to also provide a reward for reliable information that leads to the rescue of these girls. In both cases, the utility of the information and whether to make a reward relies on the judgment of the Secretary.
Also, Schumer noted that the United States should provide refugee visas for those who help law enforcement in this investigation, as they do in other scenarios. The individual must: 1.) possess reliable information regarding an important aspect of a crime or pending commission of a crime, 2.) be willing to share this information with law enforcement officials, and 3.) has or will be placed in danger for providing that information. Again, Schumer said, the judgment on whether an individual meets those criteria is made by consular officials.
The Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment (TIDE) is an international database of known and suspected terrorists that is capable of utilizing watch list data to make analytical associations that identify terrorist threats.
On the night of April 14, the terrorist group Boko Haram invaded the school, and kidnapped at least 276 schoolgirls, due in part to the Western education they were receiving there. It is believed that the girls are being held somewhere in the forests that stretch into Cameroon. The kidnappers have announced their intention to sell the girls in the marketplace, and it has been reported that some of the children may have already been sold into slavery in the neighboring countries of Chad and Cameroon.
Schumer recognized that the State Department has already taken important action in locating these girls by sending an inter-agency team composed of State Department, FBI and DOD officials to Nigeria to provide surveillance and intelligence. However, in light of the concerning response by the Nigerian government to this crime and in dealing with Boko Haram more generally, Schumer is urging the State Department to do more. Schumer noted that Nigeria has missed opportunities to collaborate with international partners to fight terrorism in the past, and clearly in this particular instance, the Nigerian government acted far too slowly.
*
Preceding provided by Senator Charles Schumer of New York
This is one of the few times Sen. Schumer ever made sense.
This time I agree with him, wholeheartedly.