Jonathan Accepts U.S. Offer To Rescue Abducted Schoolgirls

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday accepted a definite offer from the U.S. government to locate and rescue the abducted schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, in Abuja.

The statement said that the offer from  President Barack Obama was conveyed to Jonathan by the U.S. Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry, in a telephone conversation which began at 15.30 hours on Tuesday.

It said the assistance included the deployment of U.S. security personnel and assets in collaboration with their Nigerian counterparts for 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,” the statement said.

It said President Jonathan thanked Kerry for the telephone call and for the assistance.

The statement, however, said that the president had told Kerry 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.

It further said that the president also met with the Chief of Defense Staff, Service Chiefs and heads of national security agencies in continuation of the national efforts to find and rescue the abducted girls.

The statement also said that the president received updates on the ongoing search and rescue effort, and gave approval for recommended further actions.