Chairman Royce to Convene Boko Haram Hearing Tomorrow

Press Release

U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, TOMORROW will convene a hearing to examine the Administration's response to Boko Haram, particularly the terrorist organization's recent kidnapping of hundreds of Nigerian girls. The hearing entitled, "Boko Haram: The Growing Threat to Schoolgirls, Nigeria, and Beyond" will begin at 9:45 a.m.

Immediately prior to the hearing, Committee Members will hear from Deborah Peter, a 15-year-old girl originally from the village of Chibok, Nigeria, the town where nearly 300 schoolgirls have been abducted by Boko Haram. Deborah is the first female survivor of a Boko Haram attack to visit Washington, D.C. and is currently studying at Mountain Mission School in the U.S. At the conclusion of this briefing, Ms. Peter, Chairman Royce, and Ranking Member Engel (D-NY) will participate in a brief media availability. (See below for information on covering the briefing.)

On the hearing and briefing by Ms. Peter, Chairman Royce said: "For years, Boko Haram has tortured and frightened communities throughout Nigeria. The latest victims of the "Nigerian Taliban' are hundreds of young girls simply seeking an education. It is time for a more aggressive U.S. response to this al-Qaeda-affiliated group, which threatens U.S. interests too. This hearing will provide the Committee an opportunity to press the Administration on how it is responding to this growing threat, most immediately aiding the Nigerian government to free these young kidnapping victims. It is clear that more needs to be done. Sitting down with Deborah Peter before the hearing and listening to her heart-wrenching story puts a face on the vile terror of Boko Haram."

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