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Vigil planned for Nigerian girls

Tomorrow evening, St. Alban Anglican Church is hosting a candlelight vigil for the more than 250 Nigerian school girls abducted this past April by militant Islamic group Boko Haram in Chibok, Nigeria.

Tomorrow evening, St. Alban Anglican Church is hosting a candlelight vigil for the more than 250 Nigerian school girls abducted this past April by militant Islamic group Boko Haram in Chibok, Nigeria.

"It breaks my heart to hear that girls going to school have been abducted," said Rev. Margaret Cornish, "We felt we needed to express solidarity."

The vigil, taking place at 7:30 p.m. at 7260 St. Albans Road is being organized by the church and its new parishioner, Chi Onuoha, a Nigerian citizen who's attending Omni College to complete her nursing program.

"Growing up in Nigeria, I will say there is gender inequality. The boys are given preferential treatment, the girls are trained to be submissive and in some very remote areas, the girls are not allowed to attend schools," Onuoha told the Richmond News.

"A number of people wanted to do something more than prayer, but there's only so much we can do here in Canada," added Cornish, "My friends in faith are getting together to pray for the individuals."

The abduction of the girls by the group Boko Haram, was motivated by its opposition to the "westernization" of Nigeria. The group forbids the education of women and encourages a traditional Islamic lifestyle.

It is feared the girls are being kept or sold as brides, and have a bride price of 2,000 naira, the equivalent of $14 Canadian.