Jonathan accepts Obama’s offer to help rescue abducted girls

 President Goodluck Jonathan has accepted offer of security assistance from the United States in the search and rescue of the over 200 girls of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State who were abducted by Boko Haram militants. Briefing State House correspondents yesterday, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the offer was made via telephone call from the Secretary of State, John Kerry on behalf of President Barack Obama.
The assistance includes the deployment of U.S. security personnel and assets to work with their Nigerian counterparts in the search and rescue operation.
In the words of Abati: “President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday 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.”