The Nigerian Union of Teachers  held a day of protest across the west African country in support of more than 200 schoolgirls seized by the Islamist group Boko Haram last month.The teaching unions said they were also marching in memory of the more than 170 teachers killed by militants in a series of attacks that has killed thousands.

Nearly 150 people have been killed in bomb attacks blamed on the Boko Haram in the last two days, putting the Nigerian government under pressure to do more to find the kidnapped girls and end the attacks.

Several foreign countries have promised to help Nigeria find the girls. BBC reported on Wednesday that President Barack Obama had deployed 80 military personnel to neighboring Chad to help in the search, while a UK and Israel have sent spy planes to find where the girls are being hidden.