Chibok girls New video gives hope to the parents

New video has emerged showing some of the Nigerian schoolgirls who were kidnapped two years ago gives hope they may return, their family and friends say. The footage obtained by CNN, thought to have been filmed in December 2015, shows 15 girls in black robes identifying themselves.

The girls were taken from a school in the town of Chibok by members of the Islamist group Boko Haram. The kidnapping of the 276 girls triggered the global social media campaign #BringBackOurGirls. The campaign involved US first lady Michelle Obama and a host of celebrities. Despite their efforts, most of the girls are still missing. Thursday marks the second anniversary of their disappearance. The footage of the girls is the first to be seen since May 2014, when about 100 of them were shown in a video was broadcast after being handed to the Nigerian government.

But Nigeria's Information Minister Lai Mohammed urged caution, saying the government had received a similar video last July that led to a "cul-de-sac". He queried why it had been released now, if filmed in December, but stressed the government was "ready to explore all avenues that will lead to the release of the girls".