Rally in support of Nigerian schoolgirls at Belfast City Hall

Dozens of people have taken part in demonstration at Belfast City Hall calling for the release of 230 schoolgirls kidnapped from their school in north-eastern Nigeria three weeks ago by Islamist militant group Boko Haram. The armed group has vowed to sell the children off into slavery.

Sinn Féin MLAs Megan Fearon and Jennifer McCann took part in the demonstration.

Speaking to An Phoblacht, Newry and Armagh MLA Megan Fearon said people across the world must do all they can to "send a message to the kidnappers that the international community is abhorred by their actions.”

West Belfast MLA Jennifer McCann said the kidnappings send out a very disturbing message about the value of women in the developing world:

“It’s important that we send out a clear message from Belfast that of our solidarity with the schoolchildren and our disgust at the actions of the kidnappers.”