(Transcript from World News Radio)
Pressure is mounting on the Nigerian government to do more to rescue more than 200 abducted schoolgirls.
The Islamist militant group Boko Haram this week said it took the girls from their school in Borno state last month.
The group says it's still holding the girls and is threatening to sell them as slaves.
Abby Dinham reports.
Boko Haram, which means "Western education is forbidden", has attacked numerous educational institutions in northern Nigeria.
A man claiming to be Boko Haram leader called Abubakar Shekau has released a video claiming responsibility.
"(Through translation)....Just because I took some little girls in Western education everybody is making noise. Let me tell you I took the girls, girls go and get married. We are against Western education and I say stop Western education, I repeat I took the girls, and I will sell them off, there is a market for selling girls."
Islamists stormed an all-girl secondary school in the village of Chibok in Borno state, on April 14, then packed the teenagers onto trucks and disappeared into a remote area along the border with Cameroon.
Relatives of the missing students have been protesting over what they say is government inaction to locate and rescue them.
This mother told the BBC it's been an agonising ordeal for the families.
"(Through translation...): Since they've been taken away, it's been very difficult for us. Many people come to our house during the day to sympathise with us, but then at night, our family stays awake all night thinking of our daughter and all the other girls and what they're going through."
Nigeria's President, Goodluck Jonathan has tried to reassure families the government will do everything it can to release the girls.
"We promise that wherever these girls are, we will surely get them out. I really sympathise and express my empathy to the parents and the relatives and of course the guardians of these girls."
Other countries have also expressed their support.
White House spokesman, Jay Carney, says the United States is willing to help.
"We continue to stand firmly with the people of Nigeria in their efforts to bring the terrorist violence perpetrated by Boko Haram to an end while ensuring civilian protection and respect for human rights."
Charlotte Obidairo is a representative of a youth empowerment group in Nigeria.
She's been demonstrating in Lagos, demanding the government to intensify its search.
"Well this is the beginning, I guess Nigerians don't have the.. is not used to protesting so this is the beginning, we will be coming back again until the girls are back, we will continue. I think this is the first step and we will mobilise more and more people."
The abductions threaten to overshadow the World Economic Forum, being held in the capital Abuja this week.
