To aid in the search for about 300 kidnapped schoolgirls in Nigeria, the United States (US) has sent a dozen officers from its military to the country. The US military is also slated to send a core team to aid Nigeria in its search for the abducted students.
On the night of 14 April, a group of militants abducted more than 200 schoolgirls from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok in Nigeria. Boko Haram, a terrorist organisation, led by Abubakar Shekau, has claimed that it has kidnapped the schoolgirls to sell them in the market.
US President Barack Obama has described the kidnapping as "terrible situation". The US President said that his country's military and law enforcement advisors would go to Nigeria to free the schoolgirls from the abductors.
The US Defence headquarters, Pentagon, stated that it is "sharply focused" on the kidnapping crisis. Pentagon spokesman Col Steve Warren said that within days another team will reach Nigeria to tackle the abduction. The US team will be based at the US Embassy in Abuja to help with communications, logistics and intelligence. The US is coordinating with the Nigerian government on the issue.
Posting a picture of herself in the social media, US First Lady Michelle Obama expressed her support to the abducted schoolgirls. Michelle has posted her pictures, along with a message, in both Facebook and Twitter. She said her thoughts and prayers were with the girls and their families.
Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State, on 7 May lent her voice to share the anguish of the kidnapped schoolgirls. She expressed her outrage and sought action against the kidnappers.
"It's criminal. It's an act of terrorism and it really merits the fullest response possible. First and foremost from the government of Nigeria," Clinton said.
Earlier on 8 May, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, at the World Economic Forum in Africa (WEFA) in Nigerian capital Abuja, had vowed to find the kidnapped schoolgirls.
(Ed: VP)
