Chibok Girls: US to deploy troops in Nigeria
President Goodluck Jonathan has accepted the offer of the United States to provide security assistance towards securing the release of the female pupils of Government Girls Secondary School Chibok, Borno State, abducted last month.
Confirming the development to State House correspondents, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said Secretary of State, John Kerry, made the offer over the phone on behalf of President Barack Obama.
Under the arrangement, U.S. security personnel and assets will be deployed in Nigeria to work with local security operatives in locating and rescuing the girls.
“The offer from President Barack Obama, which was conveyed to President Jonathan by the United States Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry, in a telephone conversation which began at 15.30 Hours today includes the deployment of U.S. security personnel and assets to work with their Nigerian counterparts in the search and rescue operation,” Abati said.
“Mr. Kerry assured President Jonathan that the United States is wholly committed to giving Nigeria all required support and assistance to save the abducted girls and bring the reign of terror unleashed on parts of the country by Boko Haram to an end.”
He said Jonathan thanked Kerry for the call and offer of further assistance, assuring him that security agents in Nigeria, who are working at full capacity to find and rescue the abducted girls, would appreciate the deployment of American counter-insurgency know-how and expertise in support of their efforts.
After speaking with the United States Secretary of State, Jonathan met with the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs and heads of national security agencies in continuation of the national efforts to find and rescue the abducted girls.
At the meeting he received updates on the ongoing search and rescue effort, and gave approval for recommended further actions.
TheCable had earlier reported that US marines are already in Nigeria to help in training the military to combat insecurity in the land.
Even after making an offer, Prez is still asking for further assistance. According to the speech delivered on May day, Prez boasted abt Nigeria having the highest ownership of jets, didn't know we had rich beggers. Anyway, it's not enough to ask forfish, fisher boy should know how to fish too. Rather than assistance Prez should negotiate for training.
1) This article is very similar to an article published by Olalekan Adetayo of Punch. This reporter either copied from Punch or both papers copied from the same place without attribution.
2) Just like the Punch article, this headline says US is to deploy troops to Nigeria but nowhere in this article does it say such. The US says it is not deploying security personnel and assets. It never mentioned troops. In fact, the US has specifically said it is not deploying troops.
What the Nigerian SECURITY AGENTS COULD NOT DO the American Marines have done