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| US experts join hunt for abducted Nigerian schoolgirls | US experts join hunt for abducted Nigerian schoolgirls |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A team of US experts has been sent to Nigeria to help find more than 200 schoolgirls abducted last month by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram. | A team of US experts has been sent to Nigeria to help find more than 200 schoolgirls abducted last month by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram. |
| US President Barack Obama said the team comprised personnel from military, law enforcement and other agencies. | US President Barack Obama said the team comprised personnel from military, law enforcement and other agencies. |
| He said he hoped the kidnapping might galvanise the international community to take action against Boko Haram. | He said he hoped the kidnapping might galvanise the international community to take action against Boko Haram. |
| Earlier, it emerged that eight more girls had been abducted in north-eastern Nigeria by suspected militants. | Earlier, it emerged that eight more girls had been abducted in north-eastern Nigeria by suspected militants. |
| The latest kidnapping happened on Sunday night in the village of Warabe in Borno state. The girls taken were aged between 12 and 15. | The latest kidnapping happened on Sunday night in the village of Warabe in Borno state. The girls taken were aged between 12 and 15. |
| On Monday, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau threatened to "sell" more than 230 girls seized from their school, also in Borno, on 14 April. | On Monday, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau threatened to "sell" more than 230 girls seized from their school, also in Borno, on 14 April. |
| 'Heartbreaking' | |
| Growing international outrage led the US to offer the Nigerian government help and, on Tuesday, Mr Obama confirmed that the offer had been accepted. | Growing international outrage led the US to offer the Nigerian government help and, on Tuesday, Mr Obama confirmed that the offer had been accepted. |
| "We have already sent in a team to Nigeria... a combination of military, law enforcement, and other agencies who are going in, trying to identify where in fact these girls might be," he said. | "We have already sent in a team to Nigeria... a combination of military, law enforcement, and other agencies who are going in, trying to identify where in fact these girls might be," he said. |
| Mr Obama described the abduction as "heartbreaking" and "outrageous" and denounced Boko Haram as "one of the worst regional... terrorist organisations". | Mr Obama described the abduction as "heartbreaking" and "outrageous" and denounced Boko Haram as "one of the worst regional... terrorist organisations". |
| But he added: "This may be the event that helps to mobilise the entire international community to finally do something against this horrendous organisation that's perpetrated such a terrible crime." | But he added: "This may be the event that helps to mobilise the entire international community to finally do something against this horrendous organisation that's perpetrated such a terrible crime." |
| Boko Haram - whose name means "Western education is forbidden" - is seeking to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state in the north of Nigeria. | Boko Haram - whose name means "Western education is forbidden" - is seeking to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state in the north of Nigeria. |
| Its insurgency has left thousands dead since 2009. | Its insurgency has left thousands dead since 2009. |
| US officials have said the first group of abducted girls, aged between 16 and 18, may have already been smuggled over Nigeria's porous borders into countries such as Chad and Cameroon. | US officials have said the first group of abducted girls, aged between 16 and 18, may have already been smuggled over Nigeria's porous borders into countries such as Chad and Cameroon. |
| However, officials in Chad and Cameroon say they do not believe the girls are in their countries. | However, officials in Chad and Cameroon say they do not believe the girls are in their countries. |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday that Washington will set up a co-ordination cell at its embassy in Abuja with US military personnel, law enforcement officials and experts in hostage situations. | US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday that Washington will set up a co-ordination cell at its embassy in Abuja with US military personnel, law enforcement officials and experts in hostage situations. |
| "[Nigerian] President Goodluck Jonathan was very happy to receive this offer and ready to move on it immediately," he told reporters, after talks with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. | "[Nigerian] President Goodluck Jonathan was very happy to receive this offer and ready to move on it immediately," he told reporters, after talks with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. |
| The UK has also offered to help the Nigerian authorities in their search, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Tuesday, without specifying what form the assistance would take. | |
| Criticism | |
| Baroness Ashton said the girls' kidnapping was "devastating for all of us". | Baroness Ashton said the girls' kidnapping was "devastating for all of us". |
| "These are the future of the country," she said. | "These are the future of the country," she said. |
| "They are teachers, dancers, politicians. They are scientists, they are mothers, they are women in the making who have a right to play their full part in their society." | "They are teachers, dancers, politicians. They are scientists, they are mothers, they are women in the making who have a right to play their full part in their society." |
| President Jonathan, speaking in Abuja, said his country's security agencies "would appreciate" the deployment of US counter-insurgency expertise. | President Jonathan, speaking in Abuja, said his country's security agencies "would appreciate" the deployment of US counter-insurgency expertise. |
| The Nigerian government has been criticised at home and abroad for what some say is a slow response to the abductions. | The Nigerian government has been criticised at home and abroad for what some say is a slow response to the abductions. |
| President Jonathan has said they are doing everything they can. | President Jonathan has said they are doing everything they can. |
| In the latest kidnapping, gunmen arrived in two trucks and also seized animals and food from the village of Warabe. | In the latest kidnapping, gunmen arrived in two trucks and also seized animals and food from the village of Warabe. |
| Residents of a nearby town said they feared Boko Haram would target them next. | Residents of a nearby town said they feared Boko Haram would target them next. |
| Warabe is also close to the Sambisa forest, where the first group of schoolgirls is thought to have been taken. | Warabe is also close to the Sambisa forest, where the first group of schoolgirls is thought to have been taken. |
| Are you in the area? Have you been affected? You can contact us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject heading 'Nigeria search'. | |
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