A team of experts from the United States of America has been sent to Nigeria to help find more than 200 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, over three weeks ago by Boko Haram.

Speaking yesterday on America’s ABC TV, President Barack Obama disclosed that the team comprised personnel from military, law enforcement and other agencies.

“We have already sent in a team to Nigeria... a combination of military, law enforcement, and other agencies who are going in, trying to identify where in fact these girls might be,” Obama said.

He described the abduction as “heartbreaking” and “outrageous” and denounced Boko Haram as “one of the worst regional... terrorist organisations.”

“This,” according to Obama, “may be the event that helps to mobilise the entire international community to finally do something against this horrendous organisation that’s perpetrated such a terrible crime.”

Meanwhile, in Abuja, presidential spokesman Reuben Abati confirmed that President Goodluck Jonathan has accepted offer of security assistance from the US to help rescue the girls, who were taken away from their hostel in the night of April 14.

Briefing State House correspondents Abati said: “President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday (Monday) 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.

“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 (yesterday), 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.

“After speaking with the United States Secretary of State, President Jonathan today (yesterday) 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.

“The President received updates on the ongoing search and rescue effort, and gave approval for recommended further actions. Some of those in the security meeting were Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), ‎Chief of Defense Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh, Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Kenneth Minimah, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Ademola Amosu, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, National Security Adviser, Director General of State Security Service (SSS), Ita Ekpeyong and DG Nigeria Intelligence Agency, Ayo Oke.”

•Photo shows American soldiers engaged in foreign operations.

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