US TO DEPLOY TROOPS TO RESCUE ABDUCTED GIRLS

Dr, Reuben Abati, The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity,  on Tuesday announced that President Goodluck Jonathan, has accepted the offer of President of the United States of America, Barrack Obama, to assist Nigerian troops in rescuing the 234 school girls that were abducted by Boko Haram sect, from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.
The offer was made through the US Secretary of State, mr. John Kerry, through a phone conversation with President Goodluck Jonathan according to Abati.
"President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Tuesday welcomed and accepted a definite offer of help from the United States of America in the ongoing effort to locate and rescue the girls abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok three weeks ago" he said.


"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.
"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.
"Thanking Mr. Kerry for the call and offer of further assistance, President Jonathan told him that Nigeria’s security agencies who were already 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" Abati said.
According to him, the President after speaking with the United States Secretary of State 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.
Abati said that the president was given updates on the ongoing search and rescue effort and gave approval for recommended further actions.
Meanwhile, the United States Department of State today (Tuesday) confirmed that Nigeria had accepted its offer to help in rescuing no fewer than 200 girls that were abducted by insurgent members over three weeks ago.
In a brief statement on CNN, the Department said: "Nigeria welcomes offer of US support in search for hundreds of the kidnapped girls".