What Tillerson Discussed after meeting with Buhari

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says his country will assist Nigeria with latest security equipment and intelligence sharing in its efforts towards the safe return of abducted Dapchi schoolgirls as well as the ongoing fight against Boko Haram

Tillerson stated this when he briefed newsmen alongside Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to him, the US government will also offer special training for security personnel to enable them engage in special operations towards the rescue the girls as well as the remaining Chibok schoolgirls in captivity.

He, however, expressed the hope that both the Chibok and Dapchi schoolgirls would return home peacefully.

“First, we respect the responsibilities of the government of Nigeria and the territorial integrity of Nigeria.

“But the way we support is in providing them capability capacity with equipment and also training of the personnel of special operations and sharing intelligence to ensure that they have all the information available to carry out the recovery effort.

“But I think it is also important to put this in a broad regional context as well. Boko Haram is a threat to other region and this has been the subject of my meetings elsewhere and in Africa as well.

“In my discussion with President Derby in Chad earlier today, we spoke about the threat of Boko Haram and I think it is important and it’s really been powerful.

“The collaboration between the joint task force which Nigeria is a part and Chad is a part, to respond to this threat of terrorism which Boko Haram is one of the organizations, there are other threats that the leadership of this country has to deal with.

“So the United States is ready to engage and coordinate efforts as well. But we have been supporting, equipping, training and when we can provide information.

“I think that is the best way we have been helping the government of Nigeria secure the release of the girls, which we hope, will be done in a peaceful manner. We hope that something can be worked out and they can secure the release of these girls quickly,’’ he said.