Obama deploys military experts to search for kidnapped schoolgirls •Urges global action against Boko Haram

United States President Barack Obama has deployed military experts in the hunt for the kidnachoolgirls. He described the kidnapping of more than 230 schoolgirls by Islamist group, Boko Haram, as "heartbreaking" and "outrageous."

Obama urged global action against Boko Haram and confirmed Nigerian leaders had accepted an offer to deploy US personnel there, soon after residents said the extremist group had seized eight more girls, aged between 12 and 15, again in the embattled northeast.

The first group of girls were taken three weeks ago, and concerns have been mounting about their fate after Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau claimed responsibility, saying his group was holding the schoolgirls as "slaves" and threatening to "sell them in the market".

Speaking to US broadcaster ABC, Obama said: "It's a heartbreaking situation, outrageous situation."
"This 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," he added.

The team sent to Nigeria consists of "military, law enforcement, and other agencies", Obama said, and will work to "identify where in fact these girls might be and provide them help."

He denounced Boko Haram as "one of the worst regional or local terrorist organisations."

US officials have voiced fears that the more than 220 girls, aged between 16 and 18, have already been smuggled into neighbouring countries, such as Chad and Cameroon. The governments of both denied the girls were in their countries.

Their fate has sparked global outrage and may constitute a crime against humanity according to the UN.

The decision of the United States government to deploy men and materials to help locate and rescue the girls abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, on April 14, is setting a new phase to war against terror in Nigeria.

Earlier on Tuesday, President Barack Obama’s offer for the involvement of  the US anti terrorism know-how in the rescue effort was communicated to President Goodluck Jonathan by the United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, in a phone call on Tuesday afternoon. 

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, briefed State House correspondents after the phone conversation between Jonathan and Kerry, saying that the Secretary of State had assured of his country’s total commitment to giving Nigeria the required assistance to save the abducted girls and bring Boko Haram’s reign of terror to an end.

The presidential spokesman said while thanking Kerry for the call and further offer of assistance, Jonathan told him that Nigerian security forces would appreciate the deployment of American counter-insurgency know-how and expertise in support of their efforts. 

According to Abati, “President  Jonathan  welcomed and accepted a definite offer of help from the United States in the ongoing effort to locate and rescue the girls.

“The offer from President Obama, which was conveyed to President Jonathan by Mr Kerry in a telephone conversation which began at 15.30 hours today, includes the deployment of US 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.”

Abati noted that after speaking with the United States Secretary of State, Jonathan 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.

He said the president received updates on the ongoing search and rescue effort and gave approval for recommended further actions.

The US also said it considered the abduction of the schoolgirls by Islamist militants “an outrage,” while it offered to help secure their rescue.

White House spokesman, Jay Carney said US President  Obama was being briefed on the situation and his national security team was monitoring developments.

US Attorney General, Eric Holder, also said the US was sending FBI agents to trace the girls in a response to calls from families and friends of the kidnapped girls mobilising for the release of their loved ones.

Chibok girls: S/East women protest in Enugu
By Jude Ossai - Enugu

SOUTH-East women, under the auspices of Women for Peace and Justice, on Tuesday, staged a peaceful protest over the abduction of over 200 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.

The protesters, drawn from different churches and women groups in the South East, marched from Okpara Square to the Enugu State House of Assembly, where they were addressed by the speaker, Honourable Eugene Odoh.

Speaking on the premises of the Enugu State House of Assembly, convener of the protest and founder/President-General of Umuada Igbo Nigeria and Diaspora, Chief  (Dr) Kate Uzoamaka Ezeofor, appealed to the abductors not to harm the innocent girls.

She averred that women and girls had rights to life, calling on the abductors to return the girls safely to their parents.

“We, the Women for Peace and Justice, South East, are shocked, worried and concerned by the recent abduction of 234 students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno.

“We pray God to intervene. We are calling on the abductors to please ensure they do not harm the innocent girls and return them safely to their parents. Women and girls have rights to life. To the parents, pray, we are also praying, have courage. God will see us through,” she stated.

Also speaking, Mrs Beatrice Ekwueme, wife of former Vice President of Nigeria, Alex Ekwueme, said women were concerned about the abduction of the girls.

She, however, assured that President Goodluck Jonathan was working hard to ensure that the girls were released.

Addressing the women, the Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Honourable Odoh, commended the women for their peaceful conduct and assured that government was working hard to rescue the girls.

He suggested that the pictures of the abducted girls be made public, adding that unveiling full identities of the girls would make more people to join the ongoing rescue operations.

Insecurity: US, northern govs meet in Abuja
By Clement Idoko, Abuja

The United States Mission in Nigeria and some select northern governors of Nigeria will, today  meet in Abuja, to discuss wide range of issues, the Nigerian Ambassador to the US, Professor Ade Adefuye, has said.

Adefuye told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja, that the meeting was a follow up to last month’s meeting between United officials  and some northern governors in Washington D.C.

‘‘The US is very much committed in the stability and development of Nigeria and they have not reneged in strengthening areas of shared mutual concerns and interests,’’ he told NAN.

Also, the notice of the meeting, which was circulated to journalists on Tuesday, said US Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator, Rajah Shah, would attend the meeting.

NAN reported that Shah is in Abuja to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa, holding from today till Friday.

Although details of the meeting were not made public, government officials familiar with the meeting said the abduction of the schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno, and US government’s effort to assist Nigeria curb insurgency would top its agenda.

However, a statement issued by the USAID said Shah’s participation in WEF events would focus on strengthening food security and ensuring greater access to reliable energy.

It also listed raising awareness on the US government’s effort to support peace and bring an end to violence in South Sudan.

According to the statement, Shah and USAID were playing a leading role to drive President Barrack Obama’s priority initiatives to reduce hunger and double access to energy in Africa.

Meanwhile, the Mission Director of USAID in Nigeria, Michael Harvey, has called on youths to move beyond personality politics and hold political parties and candidates accountable for real issues.