The Nigerian military says it knows the location of the more than 200 Chibok schoolgirls who were kidnapped by the terrorist group Boko Haram six weeks ago.  But they will not disclose the location, nor will they for now attempt a rescue.

Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh says he will not risk getting them killed in a hurried rescue mission.  “The good news for the parents of the girls is that we know where they are, but we cannot tell you,” Badeh said to a group of protesters demanding the girls’ return. 

“But where they are held, can we go there with force?  We can't kill our girls in the name of trying to get them back,” Badeh added.  He reportedly told the group, “Just leave us alone, we are working to get the girls back.”

Although the exact location is not being revealed, the Chibok girls are believed to be held in the remote Sambisa Forest of northeastern Borno state near the border with Chad and Cameroon.  The Nigerian military is monitoring the situation with the help of the US and its drone technology.  The UK, China, and France are also among those countries to have sent teams of experts and equipment to help to locate the girls.