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.
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