(AFP) The United States has no plans to send troops to Nigeria to help
\nrecover hundreds of schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram, US Defense
\nSecretary Chuck Hagel said in an interview broadcast on Sunday.<\/p>\n
“There’s no intention, at this point, to (put) American boots on the
\nground,” Hagel told ABC television’s “This Week” program.<\/p>\n
Washington last week sent a team of military advisers as part of an
\ninternational effort to help Nigeria find the girls, who were abducted
\nnearly a month ago by the extremist Islamic group.
\nThe US defense chief was far from upbeat about chances of finding the girls.<\/p>\n
“It will be very difficult. It’s a vast country. This is not going to be
\nan easy task,” Hagel said, in the interview recorded Saturday.<\/p>\n
“We’re going to bring to bear every asset we can possibly use to help the
\nNigerian government,” he said.<\/p>\n
Boko Haram, whose name is loosely translated as “Western education is
\nforbidden” kidnapped the girls from their dormitory on April 14, and has
\nthreatened to sell them.<\/p>\n
The incident has drawn worldwide outrage, including from US President
\nBarack Obama.
\nFirst Lady Michelle Obama in a recorded message on Saturday condemned the
\nkidnappings as “unconscionable.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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