School Abductions: We’re Ready To Assist If Nigeria Is Ready– US

The U.S. government has expressed its willingness to help
Nigeria curb the spate of mass abduction of schoolchildren that has
pervaded the northern part of the country in recent times.

A statement via the U.S. Bureau of African Affairs digital press
briefing monitored by Peoples Gazette Thursday afternoon revealed
the decision of the American authorities.

Speaking on the U.S. efforts to combat terrorism in Africa, the
Bureau via it twitter handle, US Africa Media, pledged to help
Nigeria combat the menace of school kidnapping if Abuja shows
readiness.

“We are disgusted with the mass kidnapping of school children in
Nigeria,” Micheal Gonzales, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of
African Affairs, told participants at the briefing. “The U.S. is
ready to provide the appropriate support to the Nigerian government
if requested to do so.”

The media briefing which was convened by John T. Godfrey was
organised to address recent development in U.S. counter terrorism
efforts in Africa, including in the Great Lake regions and
Mozambique.

Nigeria is faced with the activities of Boko Haram insurgency,
banditry and kidnapping that have led to the deaths of tens of
thousands of its citizens over the years.

The onslaught of kidnapping activities by marauding gunmen is
becoming worrisome as the brigands continued to carry out deadly
attacks going unchallenged by security operatives.

Between December 2020 and ending February, bandits have abducted
over 800 school children in government schools in Katsina, Niger
and Zamfara state respectively.

The abductions of the school children that occurred in separate
attacks, drew nationwide uproar.

The Gazette had exclusively reported

how the federal government paid $2.099 million (N800 million) as
ransom to free high school children and staffers who were abducted
by bandits in February.

The U.S. government has expressed its willingness to help
Nigeria curb the spate of mass abduction of schoolchildren that has
pervaded the northern part of the country in recent times.

A statement via the U.S. Bureau of African Affairs digital press
briefing monitored by Peoples Gazette Thursday afternoon revealed
the decision of the American authorities.

Speaking on the U.S. efforts to combat terrorism in Africa, the
Bureau via it twitter handle, US Africa Media, pledged to help
Nigeria combat the menace of school kidnapping if Abuja shows
readiness.

“We are disgusted with the mass kidnapping of school children in
Nigeria,” Micheal Gonzales, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of
African Affairs, told participants at the briefing. “The U.S. is
ready to provide the appropriate support to the Nigerian government
if requested to do so.”

The media briefing which was convened by John T. Godfrey was
organised to address recent development in U.S. counter terrorism
efforts in Africa, including in the Great Lake regions and
Mozambique.

Nigeria is faced with the activities of Boko Haram insurgency,
banditry and kidnapping that have led to the deaths of tens of
thousands of its citizens over the years.

The onslaught of kidnapping activities by marauding gunmen is
becoming worrisome as the brigands continued to carry out deadly
attacks going unchallenged by security operatives.

Between December 2020 and ending February, bandits have abducted
over 800 school children in government schools in Katsina, Niger
and Zamfara state respectively.

The abductions of the school children that occurred in separate
attacks, drew nationwide uproar.

The Gazette had exclusively reported

how the federal government paid $2.099 million (N800 million) as
ransom to free high school children and staffers who were abducted
by bandits in February.