--- description: Barack Obama pledged American help for Nigeria after eight more girls were abducted by Boko Haram Tuesday title: Obama Turns Up the Heat on Boko Haram image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte827e6f7cbc1bc43/69868e38adae44ad1f542f29/488450049.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [U.S.](/section/us/) ## U.S. Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [The Brief](/tag/the-brief/) ## The Brief Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Obama Offers U.S. Help for Nigeria After Boko Haram Kidnaps More Girls by [TIME Video](/author/time-video/) ## TIME Video Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close May 7, 2014 4:31 PM CUT  One of the leaders of civil society groups, Oby Ezekwesili (C), speaks to Nigerian officers about the abducted Chibok school girls during a rally pressing for the girls' release in Abuja on May 6, 2014, ahead of World Economic Forum. Members of civil society groups marched through the streets of Abuja and to the Nigerian defence headquarters to meet with military chiefs, to press for the release of more than 200 Chibok school girls abducted three weeks ago. Suspected Boko Haram Islamists have kidnapped eight more girls from Nigeria's embattled northeast, residents said on May 6, after the extremist group's leader claimed responsibility for abducting more than 200 schoolgirls last month and said in a video he was holding them as "slaves" and threatened to "sell them in the market". AFP PHOTO/PIUS UTOMI EKPEI (Photo credit should read PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images) One of the leaders of civil society groups, Oby Ezekwesili (C), speaks to Nigerian officers about the abducted Chibok school girls during a rally pressing for the girls' release in Abuja on May 6, 2014, ahead of World Economic Forum. Members of civil society groups marched through the streets of Abuja and to the Nigerian defence headquarters to meet with military chiefs, to press for the release of more than 200 Chibok school girls abducted three weeks ago. Suspected Boko Haram Islamists have kidnapped eight more girls from Nigeria's embattled northeast, residents said on May 6, after the extremist group's leader claimed responsibility for abducting more than 200 schoolgirls last month and said in a video he was holding them as "slaves" and threatened to "sell them in the market". AFP PHOTO/PIUS UTOMI EKPEI (Photo credit should read PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images)PIUS UTOMI EKPEI—AFP/Getty Images by [TIME Video](/author/time-video/) ## TIME Video Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close May 7, 2014 4:31 PM CUT Here are the stories TIME is watching Wednesday, May 7: * [Barack Obama pledged](http://time.com/89665/boko-haram-nigeria-girls/ "undefined") American help for Nigeria after eight more girls were abducted by Boko Haram Tuesday in addition to the more than 200 already held captive. The U.S. will send military, law enforcement officials and hostage negotiators in an effort to return the girls to their families. * Few Tea Party challengers unseated their incumbent GOP rivals in Tuesday’s [Republican primaries](http://time.com/90615/tea-party-north-carolina-hagan/ "undefined") in North Carolina, Ohio, and India. * Chinese e-commerce giant [Alibaba](http://time.com/90011/alibaba-ipo/ "undefined") is getting ready to go public in the U.S. in what could be the biggest tech IPO in history. * Kevin Durant was named [NBA MVP](http://time.com/89446/kevin-durant-mvp-thunder-nba/ "undefined") after having a stellar statistical season and leading his Oklahoma Thunder to the playoffs. 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