Nigeria Officials 'know location of almost 300 abducted girls by Boko Haram #BringBackOurGirls #Entertain9jar via @myentertain9jar

NIGERIAN officials have tonight claimed they know the location of almost 300 schoolgirls abducted by militant Islamist group Boko Haram. There seems to be hope, Parents just have faith, pray and believe because its going to be well.

An estimated 276 schoolgirls have been abducted by Boko Haram[AFP]

The country's chief of defence Alex Badeh said the military know where the missing teenagers are but cannot reveal their location.

Mr Badeh told Nigeria's state news agency that soldiers will not use force to rescue the schoolgirls from where they are being held.

An estimated 276 schoolgirls went missing on April 14 during a raid on a village in Borno State while the girls were taking exams at their school.

The schoolgirls were piled into trucks from the town of Chibok and disappeared into a remote area along the border with Cameroon.

Mr Badeh said: "The good news for the parents of the girls is that we know where they are, but we cannot tell you.

"But where they are held, can we go there with force? We can't kill our girls in the name of trying to get them back."

The schoolgirls were abducted by Islamist militant group Boko Haram during a raid on their school [AFP]

The good news for the parents of the girls is that we know where they are

Nigeria's chief of defence Alex Badeh

Protests have been held in Nigeria in the seven weeks since the girls were abducted as the government have failed to rescue the teenagers.

Earlier this month Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau said he would sell the schoolgirls on the black market.

He said: "I abducted your girls. I will sell them in the market, by Allah.

"There is a market for selling humans. Allah says I should sell. He commands me to sell. I will sell women. I sell women."

Protests have been held in Nigeria since the schoolgirls went missing seven weeks ago [REUTERS]

Since the schoolgirls were captured at least 470 civilians have been killed by Boko Haram.

The group said they are fighting to establish an Islamic state in the religiously mixed country of Nigeria.

The BBC reported today that a deal was close to being agreed to exchange the schoolgirls for Boko Haram prisoners but it fell through at the last minute.

Over the weekend Senate President David Mark said: "This government cannot negotiate with criminals and ... will not exchange people for criminals.

"A criminal will be treated like a criminal."