US State Department Deputy Spokesperson, Mark Toner, said this in a statement on Tuesday, April 12,  in New York, on the second anniversary of the kidnapping of the more than 200 Nigerian girls.

According to the statement, the kidnapping of these young women, along with the kidnappings of countless others by Boko Haram, epitomised the terrorist group’s depravity.

Toner called for the immediate release, without preconditions, of all hostages held by Boko Haram.

He said that the US is also delivering over 240 million dollars in development and humanitarian assistance across the Lake Chad Basin region.

This is to provide conflict-affected populations and refugees with transitional assistance, psycho-social services, health programmes and emergency education for children displaced by violence, he added.