JERUSALEM – Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has accepted Israel’s offer to assist with the tracking down of the 200 kidnapped Nigerian girls, and a team of Israeli counter-terror specialists will assist the Nigerian forces in rescuing the girls.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on a visit to Japan, spoke earlier yesterday (May 11) with Nigerian President Jonathan and told him that Israel expresses deep shock over the crime that has been committed against the girls. The Prime Minister added that Israel is ready to assist in locating the girls and in fighting the brutal terrorism that is taking place in Nigeria. In an official statement by the Nigerian President office read: “President Jonathan has accepted Mr. Netanyahu’s offer to send a team of Israeli counter-terrorist specialists to assist in the ongoing search and rescue efforts.”
On April 14th Islamic militants from the Boko Haram terror organization stormed a secondary school in the northeastern village of Chibok and seized 276 girls who were taking exams. Some managed to escape, but around 200 remain missing.
Reuters reports that The United States and Britain have flown in experts and this, coupled with the deployment by Nigeria of two army divisions to the border region, signals that the search effort is gathering pace. They will now by joined by a team of Israeli experts.
Israel has defense ties with Nigeria, and has provided it in the past with surveillance drones. Last September, Israel was among several countries that sent advisers to Kenya to assist in a stand-off with Islamist terrorists who attacked a mall in Nairobi.