The rescue of the abducted Dapchi and those of Chibok schoolgirls might be imminent with the provision of the latest security equipment and intelligence by the United States of America.
This was disclosed by the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at a press briefing yesterday in Abuja. President Muhammadu Buhari informed the America number one diplomat that Nigeria is working in concert with international organizations and negotiators, to ensure that the girls were released unharmed by their captors.
“We are trying to be careful. It is better to get our daughters back alive,” the President said. The Musab Al-Barnawi faction of Boko Haram is suspected of being behind the abduction in Dapchi.
President Buhari thanked the US for its assistance in the fight against the insurgency. He asked for more assistance in the areas of training and equipment.
Secretary Tillerson expressed optimism in the successful return of the girls.
“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.
