Six months after terrorists kidnapped more than 270 schoolgirls in Nigeria, the White House on Tuesday detailed the administration’s unsuccessful efforts to find them.
National Security Adviser Susan E. Rice said the U.S. has helped Nigeria in its investigations, including by deploying personnel on the ground, providing strategic communications aiding families of the missing.
“The United States has made clear our commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to bring the girls home safely,” she said. “We will continue to work toward the release of all the girls who remain in captivity.”
The Islamist group Boko Haram kidnapped the girls in April and, although a few have escaped, the fate of the others is unknown. The kidnappings sparked an enormous social media campaign called “Bring Back Our Girls,” and first lady Michelle Obama joined the effort, but there has been scant attention to the issue in recent months.
There is speculation that the hostages may have been taken to Chad, Cameroon or Niger.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan told The Washington Times during a summit in August that the U.S. assistance wasn’t producing results.
Ms. Rice said the U.S. efforts “are part of our broader support to Nigeria’s pursuit of a holistic counterterrorism strategy, which includes the rule of law and strengthened security institutions.”
Boko Haram has abducted hundreds of men, women, girls and boys and killed 3,000 people in Nigeria, the White House said.
The White House said the U.S. government has provided the Nigerian government with intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance methods to aid Nigeria’s efforts to locate the missing girls. The U.S. also has deployed military personnel, hostage negotiators, humanitarian workers and other civilians to aid in the search.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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