PRESSURE MOUNTS FOR U.S. TO HELP FIND KIDNAPPED NIGERIAN SCHOOLGIRLS

Washington, 8 Rajab 1435/7 May 2014 (MINA) – The United States is offering its help, but making clear that the Nigerian government must take the lead in finding more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by the armed group.

Officials told CNN the Obama administration is sharing intelligence with Nigerian authorities and could provide other assistance, but there is no planning to send U.S. troops.

With a World Economic Forum gathering set to begin Wednesday in Abuja, the Nigerian government came under mounting pressure to save the girls abducted in the country’s remote northeast and threatened with being sold into slavery.

On a trip to Africa, Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States “will do everything possible to support the Nigerian government to return these young women to their homes and to hold the perpetrators to justice.”

In Washington, U.S. officials offered few specific details on American help being provided, CNN quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

“We are going to keep working with the Nigerians privately on that,” State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters. “Obviously they have come out very publicly and said that they are, you know, making every effort to find these girls. I just don’t think we are going to outline how we are helping them. What we are focused on is making sure they can find (the girls) and bring them home to their families.”

No U.S. troops

Harf noted that Sarah Sewall, the undersecretary of state for civilian security, democracy and human rights, would be traveling to Nigeria in coming days. Asked if she anticipated U.S. troops or other assets getting sent to Nigeria, Harf replied: “I do not.”

White House spokesman Jay Carney said President Barack Obama has been briefed on the situation a few times. Carney also listed a series of U.S. programs and steps in Nigeria, most predating the latest kidnappings, intended to strengthen its criminal justice system, improve its ability to combat improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and expand economic opportunity for women.

“There are other things, I am sure … but this is an outrage and a tragedy and we are doing what we can to assist the Nigerian government to support its efforts to find and free the young women who were abducted,” he said.

According to two senior U.S. officials, Nigerian authorities so far have not asked for specific help in any kind of possible joint rescue mission. One of the officials said the Nigerians privately indicated they want to handle the situation themselves, perhaps because they don’t want visible American forces in their country.

“We are sharing intelligence that may be relevant to this situation,” said another U.S. official with direct knowledge of the situation, speaking on condition of not being identified due to the sensitive nature of the information. “You are going to see a focus on this in all three channels of government: diplomatic, intelligence and military.” (T/P09/E01).

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).