Nigeria Abductions: United States And Britain Offer Military And Technical Support
US To Send Team To Help Captured Nigerian Girls
The Huffington Post UK
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Barack Obama has pledged the US will do "everything we can" to help Nigeria find hundreds of abducted schoolgirls - as another eight were taken from a village by armed gunmen.
Militants from the Islamist group Boko Haram seized at least 276 youngsters from a school in the village of Chibok in Borno state, north Nigeria almost a month ago.
Britain has also offered "practical help" as the hunt for the missing girls entered its fourth week.
The pledge by Foreign Minister William Hague came Tuesday, after the children's kidnapper reportedly said he would sell them.
The US President, who described the situation as "heartbreaking" and "outrageous", said the kidnapping could be "the event that helps to mobilise the entire international community to finally do something against this horrendous organisation".
"We're going to do everything we can to provide assistance to them," he said.
"In the short term our goal is obviously to help the international community, and the Nigerian government, as a team to do everything we can to recover these young ladies."
The US is sending military personnel and FBI officials with expertise in hostage negotiations.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW SLIDESHOW
Protests for the missing Nigeria schoolgirls
NIGERIA-MAY1-LABOUR-PROTEST(01 of09)
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Fidelis Olubukola, a member of the Civil Society, Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre, chants slogans for the release of the schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram more than two weeks ago during a workers' rally in Lagos on May 1, 2014. The mass kidnapping in the Chibok area of northeastern Borno state was one of the most shocking attacks in Boko Haram's five-year extremist uprising, which has killed thousands across the north and centre of the country. AFP PHOTO/PIUS UTOMI EKPEI (Photo credit should read PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
NIGERIA-LABOUR-PROTEST-UNREST(02 of09)
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A man carries placard to campaign for the release of schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram Islamists more than two weeks ago during worker's rally in Lagos on May 1, 2014. The mass kidnapping in the Chibok area of northeastern Borno state was one of the most shocking attacks in Boko Haram's five-year extremist uprising, which has killed thousands across the north and centre of the country. AFP PHOTO/PIUS UTOMI EKPEI (Photo credit should read PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
NIGERIA-MAY1-LABOUR-PROTEST-UNREST(03 of09)
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Afro music arstist and son of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Seun Anikulapo Kuti (L) speaks for the release of schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram Islamists more than two weeks ago during a workers' rally in Lagos on May 1, 2014. The mass kidnapping in the Chibok area of northeastern Borno state was one of the most shocking attacks in Boko Haram's five-year extremist uprising, which has killed thousands across the north and centre of the country. AFP PHOTO/PIUS UTOMI EKPEI (Photo credit should read PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
NIGERIA-LABOUR-PROTEST-UNREST(04 of09)
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Workers carry placard to campaign for the release of schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram Islamists more than two weeks ago during worker's rally in Lagos on May 1, 2014. The mass kidnapping in the Chibok area of northeastern Borno state was one of the most shocking attacks in Boko Haram's five-year extremist uprising, which has killed thousands across the north and centre of the country. AFP PHOTO/PIUS UTOMI EKPEI (Photo credit should read PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
NIGERIA-MAY1-LABOUR-PROTEST-UNREST(05 of09)
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Workers sit beside a banner as they press for the release of the schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram more than two weeks ago during a workers' rally in Lagos on May 1, 2014. The mass kidnapping in the Chibok area of northeastern Borno state was one of the most shocking attacks in Boko Haram's five-year extremist uprising, which has killed thousands across the north and centre of the country. AFP PHOTO/PIUS UTOMI EKPEI (Photo credit should read PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
NIGERIA-MAY1-LABOUR-PROTEST-UNREST(06 of09)
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A Civil Society, Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre member presses for the release of the schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram more than two weeks ago during a workers' rally in Lagos on May 1, 2014. The mass kidnapping in the Chibok area of northeastern Borno state was one of the most shocking attacks in Boko Haram's five-year extremist uprising, which has killed thousands across the north and centre of the country. AFP PHOTO/PIUS UTOMI EKPEI (Photo credit should read PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
NIGERIA-MAY1-LABOUR-PROTEST(07 of09)
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Fidelis Olubukola, a member of the Civil Society, Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre, chants slogans for the release of the schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram more than two weeks ago during a workers' rally in Lagos on May 1, 2014. The mass kidnapping in the Chibok area of northeastern Borno state was one of the most shocking attacks in Boko Haram's five-year extremist uprising, which has killed thousands across the north and centre of the country. AFP PHOTO/PIUS UTOMI EKPEI (Photo credit should read PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
NIGERIA-LABOUR-PROTEST-UNREST(08 of09)
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A lady carries placard to campaign for the release of schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram Islamists more than two weeks ago during worker's rally in Lagos on May 1, 2014. The mass kidnapping in the Chibok area of northeastern Borno state was one of the most shocking attacks in Boko Haram's five-year extremist uprising, which has killed thousands across the north and centre of the country. AFP PHOTO/PIUS UTOMI EKPEI (Photo credit should read PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
NIGERIA-MAY1-LABOUR-PROTEST-UNREST(09 of09)
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Afro music arstist and son of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Seun Anikulapo Kuti (C) speaks for the release of schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram Islamists more than two weeks ago during a workers' rally in Lagos on May 1, 2014. The mass kidnapping in the Chibok area of northeastern Borno state was one of the most shocking attacks in Boko Haram's five-year extremist uprising, which has killed thousands across the north and centre of the country. AFP PHOTO/PIUS UTOMI EKPEI (Photo credit should read PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)