The British Government on Wednesday said it would deploy its advanced tracking technologies in support of Nigeria’s security agencies currently engaged in the search and rescue operation of abducted school girls.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, made this known when he briefed newsmen in Abuja.
Abati spoke on the efforts by the government to locate and rescue the girls abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno.
He said that upon request by President Goodluck Jonathan, the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, gave the commitment to deploy his country’s intelligence gathering resources in support of the search and rescue operations.
He said Jonathan spoke with the British Prime Minister on phone after meeting with Premier Li Keqiang of China who is on an official visit to Nigeria.
Abati said the president thanked the British government for its concern over the fate of the abducted girls and the willingness to provide assistance to save them from the terrorists.
“President Jonathan told the prime minister that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will liaise with the British government through its High Commission in Nigeria to work out practical details of the promised support and collaboration against terrorism,’’ he said.
Abati also said that China had also offered to assist in the effort to rescue the abducted girls. “In talks with President Jonathan earlier today, Premier Li Keqiang promised that his country will make any useful information acquired by its satellites and intelligence services available to Nigeria’s security agencies.
“Mr Keqiang assured the president that China will support Nigeria’s fight against terrorism in every possible way, including the training of military personnel for anti-insurgency operations,” Abati said.
Speaking at a joint press conference after bilateral talks with China Prime Minister, Li Keqiang, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Jonathan said the two countries also agreed to deepen cooperation on anti piracy and combating organized crimes.
“The Premier promised that China will assist Nigeria in our fight against terror especially our commitment and efforts to rescue the girls that were taken away from a Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State.”
“We agreed to deepen cooperation in the field of defence and security and strenghten cooperation in counter terrorism, anti piracy and combating organised crimes.”
“The Premier expressed firm support to efforts at safeguarding our sovereignty and secure our territorial integrity as well as promoting economic development.”
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