The Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram massacred over 2000 Nigerians last week, but for the most part, this story was overlooked and underreported by the U.S. media. Media outlets are now playing catch-up, asking why the story hasn’t been covered more:
You can march for Paris, but don't overlook #BokoHaram horror, says this @CNNOpinion writer: http://t.co/72mHH8Mrp2 pic.twitter.com/Z4aQ56OKuI
— CNN (@CNN) January 13, 2015
Why Isn’t There Better Coverage of Boko Haram’s Huge Attack in Nigeria? http://t.co/Gn8hxQZxtr
— Intelligencer (@intelligencer) January 14, 2015
Islamic militants crush entire town, no one cares [VIDEO] http://t.co/Au1Qf1hY77 @TheResident #BokoHaram #BagaKillings #Nigeria
— RT America (@RT_America) January 14, 2015
Don't forget about #JeSuisNigerian and the people killed by Boko Haram: http://t.co/bKKo2iBVsr
— Splinter (@splinter_news) January 14, 2015
Even Angelina Jolie is involved with trying to bring attention to this incredibly important story:
Angelina Jolie calls on U.S. and other nations to bring Boko Haram attackers in Nigeria to justice. http://t.co/d4yIB3RnKQ
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) January 13, 2015
From the article above:
She urged the United States and other nations to offer Nigeria help to “collect evidence and bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice.”
One thing that would help get the story covered is if the White House press corps would, you know, ask questions about it.
Here’s what WH Press Secretary Josh Earnest had to say when asked about the massacre on January 12 during the daily press briefing:
Q Does the administration have any verification of the reports that started to come out of Nigeria on Friday about a potential massacre of up to 2,000 carried out by Boko Haram?
MR. EARNEST: Well, we certainly are aware of those reports and there are some other, frankly, disturbing reports of violence out of Nigeria over the weekend as well. We do continue to be concerned about that situation and we’re going to continue to work with the Nigerian government on our counterterrorism efforts.
At the same time, we’re also going to continue to urge the Nigerian government to live up to some basic human rights and some basic principles of human rights that sometimes get overlooked out of an effort to try to fight this terrible terrorist scourge that they’re dealing with in their country right now. But the United States is going to continue to monitor these events and continue to work with Nigeria on this.
That’s it. For real. And there were no Boko Haram questions at all at yesterday’s press briefing.
But back to what Earnest said on January 12, as weak as it was. By “work with Nigeria on this,” does he mean this mean tweet from the State Department sponsored “Think Again Turn Away” account?
https://twitter.com/ThinkAgain_DOS/status/555357775325569024
If this sounds all-to-familiar to Twitchy readers, here’s why:
185 women, kids kidnapped by Boko Haram and the U.S. response is a tweet http://t.co/toIf74QhFa
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) December 18, 2014
We hope — for Nigeria’s sake — that there’s a more robust U.S. response to the atrocities committed by Boko Haram than what we’re seeing publicly.
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Related:
Thomas Friedman wants you to watch ‘Batman’ to understand ISIS and Boko Haram
New video shows Boko Haram members beheading Nigerian pilot
Peter Fonda draws line from Boko Haram to GOP
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