I am going to get slaughtered for this I know but I think the lack of news/response over the kidnapping of a 3 year old girl shows that ...

[wannaBe]

one child's plight is more important than another in the eyes of some.

She is also three, she is also Brittish, Yes she is currently still alive but there is a threat over her life, but it doesn't seem as relevant somehow.

is it because she's in a country most wouldn't travel to?

because she was taken by rebels and not paedophiles?

Just to make it clear - I was trying to give reasons why this story has not received so much coverage in the press as Madeleine McCann's - I was not saying that I think they have brought this down upon themselves by being in the "wrong" place.

They must be terrified - just as terrified as Madeleine McCann's parents - and I hope they have their little girl home soon.

I've never been to Nigeria, but if it's anything like Brazil it's best left to the negotiators because a lot of times these kidnappers can be very jumpy and panic easily. Some could even be drug-users.

I don't think anyone is being critical of either sets of parents. Both must be going through hell!

It's the media who are (quite rightly) being judged.

I don't think the lack of coverage has anything to do with the fact that they know where she could be etc. If I recall the Madeleine posters etc weren't released for at least a week after her disappearance, and yet we still had day by day coverage of the search etc. Maybe the lack of coverage has something to do with the fact that the Algarv is a far nicer place to report from than Lagos.

What pisses me off is the 'world media' including the BBC, assuming that I'd be more horrified at the kidnap of a blonde British girl in Portugal than a black British girl in Nigeria!

expat my dad worked in Nigeria about 25 years ago and it was grim back then. The sort of place where you had to leave a guard by your car if you went shopping because if you didn't the wheels would be gone by the time you got back. Hence why he chose not to go back when offered a job there.

There was a picture of her in the Metro this morning. Didn't look at all black or mixed race.

Oh God, sorry. Picture was of the little girl who choked on a drawstring bag at a nursery. Really sorry. I'll but out now.

We didn't go on some assignments with my dad, wannabe.

We did go on others. I am very grateful we did now, because it made our perspective to life change for the better, IMO.

An invaluable experience.

Am SO hoping the kidnappers are already working with someone and they can reach a quick resolution for her safe release.

Isn't SueDomin in that part of the country or am I mixing her up with a different MNer? I remember her saying that they have to go everywhere by car with guards Hope she's feeling OK, I heard that the FO is advising Britsish Nationals to leave.

I really hope too that this little girl gets returned soon.

At least sky news is on full coverage now.

children all over the world go missing for various reasons all the time. i just think its a sad fact now that it has to be a certain 'type' of child in order to get any press coverage. could it be that if every missing child was shown on the news we would stop noticing them iyswim?

this threads v intresting and i agree with most of you that the press's indifference to this poor girls and her family's plight says a lot about our society. this young girl can be helped and (i hate to say this) there is a strong chance that madeleine cannot, yet where are the donations/ribbons/celebrity pledges, is one life really more precious than another? a few years back when a model was murdered in london the media coverage was huge. that same day (iirc) a young black girl was mutilated in a london flat, needless to say the press focused on the model. it disgusts me!

I hadn't even heard of this case. Thats no good.

i thought that too when i heard about it on the news yesterday.

"I was wondering if it would have received any coverage at all had it not been for the MMC story. "

That's what I thought Homemama.

Didn't I hear that she was the 3rd British child to have been kidnapped in Nigeria this year. I don't recall hearing about the other two.

Wannabe - I know that I'm late replying to your OP but I have to disagree with you. The fact this little girl is missing is horrendous, the difference is (as others have said) that they do know who has her and they do know why - it's for money - therefore it's highly likely - although not certain - that she will be returned unharmed. MMC - they don't know who has her or why and nobody is offering to give her back. I read a horrifying statistic the other day - apparently there are 2.5m long term missing children (between ages 4 and 14) worldwide - nearly all are thought to have been abducted by Paedophile rings. The McC's may be running this campaign for their daughter but it can only have positive long term effects. But - this story still made me shiver with horror as any child being terrified and removed from their parents is dreadful and should never happen.
BTW not trying to start another MMC thread...

but dont you think that Margaret deserves the same sort of media response as Madeleine?

Surely part of the early media response for MM was to alert as many people as possible incase there were any witnesses and to locate her as fast as possible.

It is in the news. Have seen it on the news and in the papers.

I do think the situation is slightly different too. It is known who has this child and why. They know she is alive. The high profile is not needed in this case as the abductors are in contact and making demands of how to get her released. And sadly in the area they are this is not that uncommon

There will be loads going on about for this case we don't know about.

It is still dreadful and extremely concerning, and I am equally looking to see a good outcome come from this, and for the little girl to be returned home to her parents asap, safe and well.

Its everywhere on the news here

All it shows that here are some bastards out there who will trade kids lives for their own benefits

The case isnta direct aprallel either- they know were the poor mite is and are in conatct; she isn't domiciled in the UK; ther eis negotiation ongoing

Still praying for the poor mit of course

I think that Suedonim is in Lagos rather than Port Harcourt. Imo that the media resposne is proportionate - 5 of her father's' co-workers were kidnapped during the week - that barely made the news because this happens so often. Yes the fact that children are now being kidnapped is new and newsworthy. But there isn't going to be a huge search for her - a ransom note has been received, the ransom will be paid (and we're probably looking at a few thousand pounds, so no real need for the JK Rowlings to be involved). If this progresses further, or if God forbid it translates into something other than a "straightforward kidnapping", then it will get a lot more coverage.

Anyway the coverage on sky seems fairly high. It may not be the top headline but it is in the papers. The media are covering it. It is just that people aren't quite so hysterical about it. And the situation is being dealt with in the same way that these situations are usually dealt with in that part of the world.

Her Mother is Nigerian

which doesn't mean Mum is balck She may be) onlt she is registered as a Nigerian national

By homemama on Fri 06-Jul-07 10:18:37
What pisses me off is the 'world media' including the BBC, assuming that I'd be more horrified at the kidnap of a blonde British girl in Portugal than a black British girl in Nigeria!

but isn't the sad sad truth that many elements of british society won't feel the same about this? it's an uncomfortable truth i know, but for many of the reasons outlined in posts below i very much doubt it will gnerate the same amount of school-gate chatter

Well it's Africa isn't it. We've all got used to crappy horrible things happening in Africa. So it doesn't matter .

When's the next big children's movie due out then?