Chibok: US envoy meets security operatives, drone action likely
Muazu: situation will affect education in the north Ambassador of the United States of America to Nigeria, Ambassador James F. Entwistle, said he has commenced discussion with the Nigeria security officials on the rescue opetation for the ovet 200 abducted girls in Chibok Borno state. He also disclosed that the team will arrive Nigeria soon […]
Muazu: situation will affect education in the northAmbassador of the United States of America to Nigeria, Ambassador James F. Entwistle, said he has commenced discussion with the Nigeria security officials on the rescue opetation for the ovet 200 abducted girls in Chibok Borno state.
He also disclosed that the team will arrive Nigeria soon for the operation but cannot say how long they are going to stay.
This is as the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Niger State Governor, Aliyu Muazu Babangida, said the situation will affect the education in the North.
This was made known today in Abuja during a meeting convened by the USAID Administrator, Mr. Rajif Shah, on the US plan to rescue the Chibok abducted girls.
“This aftetnoon i was in a discussion with some of your security officials to discuss the details of exactly what our team might look like.
I cannot give you all the details now but we are in the process of putting together a team. Nigeria security officials have told me what you need and I am hopeful that the team will be on ground shortly,” the ambassador said.
Fielding questions from journalists, he said the US assistance will be to rescue the girls after which the team will go back adding that their military cooperation with Nigeria in curbing the insurgency will continue.
On whether there will be a drone action, the envoy said, “there is a possibility of a drone action during the rescue operation but we are working out the details.”
Speaking on other assistance to curb terrorism in Nigeria, Enthwistle said “We have been helping your government in curbing the insurgency with military training. The coming of the US rescue operation team of the Chibok girls is not the beginning of our relationship. We have a long term relations but I cannot say anything on what next after the operation.”
On the size of the team, the envoy said they are working on the details of the size of the team. “They will include several US agencies. I cannot say how soon they will arrive or how long they will stay, we will decide that after they arrived. They will talk with the people and see exactly what they are going to do,” he said.
Earlier, Governor Babangida Muazu, said they welcome the US offer to rescue the abducted girl adding that the situation will affect education in northern part.
“We welcome US assistance in rescuing the girls because if we fail to do that, it will take education back for 50 years as some parents may decide not to take their children to school again. North is a region where we beg them to go to school,” Muazu remarked.
He however noted that security of a country is about the welfare of the people which they are committed to hoping that they will have a fruitful discussion.
Also speaking is the convener of the meeting USAID Administrator, Mr. Rajif Shah, who reiterated that the US is committed to providing assistance to bring back the victims safely.
He added that they have increased their assistance to five northern states in the area of education as they do to agriculture and poverty reduction in the region.
Present at the meeting were Governors Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Ramalan Yero (Kaduna), Idris Wada (Kogi), and Umaru Tanko Al-Makura (Nassarawa), Others are Acting Governor of Taraba Garba Umar, Deputy Governors of Benue and Kano States, Chief Steven Lawani and Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and Zamfara State Secretary to the State Government