Protest at Nigerian embassy in Dublin over kidnapping of girls

A protest was held outside the Nigerian Embassy in Dublin today calling for the safe return of almost 300 schoolgirls kidnapped in the country.

It comes as officials in Nigeria confirm a further 11 girls have been kidnapped by gunmen this week.

A team of American military specialists is preparing to join the search for the girls.

"Taking these girls is a kind of reward," said Jacob Zenn, an African analyst and expert on Boko Haram, the militant Islamist group behind the kidnappings.

"A compensation, in Boko Haram terms.

He says the group's leader is using the girls as a human shield.

"If the air force tries to attack then the girls too will be killed."

Nigeria’s police have said more than 300 girls were abducted in the Chibok area of the country on April 15. Of that number, 276 remain in captivity and 53 escaped.