US troops and drones search for missing Nigerian girls in Chad
The United States is sending 80 military personnel and one unarmed Predator reconnaissance drone to Chad as part of a growing effort to find the more than 275 Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by Islamic extremists a month ago. The deployment to Chad was revealed in a War Powers Act notification letter sent Wednesday to Speaker of the House John Boehner by President Obama.
According to the letter, “approximately 80 U.S. Armed Forces personnel have deployed to Chad as part of the U.S. efforts to locate and support the safe return of over 200 schoolgirls who are reported to have been kidnapped in Nigeria. ”
“These personnel will support the operation of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft for missions over northern Nigeria and the surrounding area,” it said in a letter.
“The force will remain in Chad until its support in resolving the kidnapping situation is no longer required.”
U.S. officials tell ABC News that an unarmed Predator aircraft will be sent to Chad along with 80 military personnel. Those military personnel are mostly Air Force airmen who will fly and maintain the Predators and also provide ground security.
U.S. military service members form part of an interagency team working out of the U.S. embassy in Abuja that is helping to coordinate the search with Nigerian authorities. Pentagon officials have said that there are no plans for U.S. military personnel to conduct ground operations in the search for the missing girls.
The situation has been brewing for four years (or longer) and America now arrives to the party with a lit candle and the threat of military intervention – two things Boko Haram could care less about.
There is no negotiationg with these terrorists, because if you survive their attack, they will ensure you cannot identify them by gouging out your eyes and selling your daughter for $12.
The long and shocking stories on The Dispatch, covering Boko Haram – click HERE