Vice President Joseph R. Biden and the president of Nigeria discussed efforts Tuesday to defeat the Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram, which has kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls.
A White House statement about the meeting made no mention of the girls, who were kidnapped in April. Mr. Biden’s office said that he “reiterated U.S. partnership in defeating the terrorist threat and the need to pursue holistic approaches that respect and protect human rights.”
In an exclusive interview with The Washington Times on Monday, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan criticized the U.S. and other nations providing assistance in searching for the girls, saying the efforts have not produced results.
Mr. Biden “underscored the importance of supporting Nigeria’s effort to improve the socioeconomic and security conditions in northern Nigeria,” the White House said. Boko Haram controls areas in the north of the country.
The two leaders also agreed to work together to “urgently contain” the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus, which has surfaced in Nigeria after reaching epidemic proportions in other West African nations.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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