Boko Haram Leader Deserves 'Special Place in Hell,' Lawmakers Say
Five outraged House Democrats emerged from a meeting at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday with tough words for the leader of the terrorist group Boko Haram.
"There is a special place in hell for somebody like him. Those who would prey on our children, they say that they are warlords and that they are fighting for what is right. They have become wars on children and that is not right" said Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Texas, referring to Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau.
Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, added: "We will not stop until these girls are found but we want the terrorist thug to be found now and brought to justice."
The news conference followed a meeting with the Nigerian leadership to discuss the recent kidnapping of the Nigerian girls from the Chibok Girls Secondary School in Borno State, Nigeria by the terrorist organization, Boko Haram. The ambassador to Nigeria joined the meeting by phone from the country. Other lawmakers including Representative Barbara Lee, D-Calif., Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., and Representative Janice Hahn, D-Calif., attended the meeting.
ABC News Full Coverage: Nigeria Kidnappings
"We can be part of coordinating a world effort that stops in his tracks this violent killer thug terrorist. A person who has murdered women and children and others, who has intimidated families," said Rep. Jackson Lee.
They proposed that a victims' fund be created separate and aside from the $300,000 in reward money, that a police and military unit separate from the Nigerian military be created focused solely on tracking down the girls and that surrounding countries be notified so Boko Haram is sought after and stopped.
The congresswomen also called on Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan to take the world stage and stand up to the terrorist group. President Jonathan has recently come under fire for downplaying the kidnappings.
Jackson Lee says she hopes to make a trip to Nigeria in the coming week.