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The United States has offered to help Nigeria in the effort to rescue
the kidnapped schoolgirls, but making clear it is up to the Federal
Government must take the lead in the operation.
CNN yesterday quoted US officials as saying that the Obama
administration is sharing intelligence with Nigerian authorities and
could provide other help, but there is no plan to send US troops.
President Barack Obama is being briefed on the matter, according to
report, and pressure is mounting worldwide for the Nigerian government
to act.
Last week, the State Department’s annual report on global terrorism
described Boko Haram as a group that “espouses a violent Sunni extremist
ideology” and has received funding from al Qaeda in the Islamic Magreb.
Secretary of State John Kerry, who is on a trip to Africa, said the
United States “will do everything possible to support the Nigerian
government to return these young women to their homes and to hold the
perpetrators to justice.”
In Washington, officials said the Obama administration was helping, but they didn’t go into a lot of specific detail.
“We are going to keep working with the Nigerians privately on that,” State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters.
She added: “Obviously they have come out very publicly and said that
they are, you know, making every effort to find these girls. I just
don’t think we are going to outline how we are helping them. What we are
focused on is making sure they can find them and bring them home to
their families.”
Asked if she anticipated US troops or other assets being sent to Nigeria, Harf replied: “I do not.”
White House spokesman Jay Carney mentioned a series of U.S.
programmes and steps in Nigeria, most predating the latest kidnappings,
intended to strengthen its criminal justice system, improve its ability
to combat improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and expand economic
opportunity for women.
“There are other things, I am sure … but this is an outrage and a
tragedy and we are doing what we can to assist the Nigerian government
to support its efforts to find and free the young women who were
abducted,” Carney said.
According to two senior U.S. officials, Nigerian authorities so far
have not asked for specific help in any kind of possible joint rescue
mission.
One of the officials said the Nigerians privately indicated they want
to handle the situation themselves, perhaps, because they don’t want
visible American forces in their country.
“We are sharing intelligence that may be relevant to this situation,”
said another U.S. official with direct knowledge of the situation,
speaking on condition of not being identified due to the sensitive
nature of the information.
“You are going to see a focus on this in all three channels of government: diplomatic, intelligence and military,” he stated.
The United States could offer satellite imagery and electronic
intelligence, such as communications intercepts in the effort to rescue
the kidnapped girls.
Another American official said the U.S. military is not planning to
send troops, but could consider helping Nigerian forces with any
planning for a rescue mission, under existing military cooperation
agreements.
Last week, Attorney General Eric Holder asked U.S. intelligence
agencies to prepare a report for him on the latest schoolgirl
kidnappings in Nigeria, an American law enforcement official told CNN.
The attorney general also requested an assessment of Boko Haram that
could help the Justice Department seek indictments or curtail funding
sources for the group.
U.S. Africa Command has long been helping Nigerian forces improve their training and operations to counter Boko Haram militants.
The United States designated Boko Haram a terrorist organisation last
November, said the report, which blamed the group for attacks in
northern and north-eastern Nigeria that have killed thousands of people
since 2009.
Boko Haram “receives the bulk of its funding from bank robberies and
related criminal activities, including extortion and kidnapping for
ransoms,” as well as the al Qaeda in the Islamic Magreb funding, the
report added.
According to U.S. authorities, Boko Haram has got training in weapons
and communications from AQIM as well as al Qaeda in the Arabian
Peninsula.
No fewer than eight girls have been abducted in a fresh attack on a
village in the southern part of Borno State by suspected Boko Haram
insurgents, residents and security sources said.
The latest incident, according to a security source, occurred in
remote Warabe village in Gwoza Local Government of Area of the state.
Warabe is a few kilometres from the hilly Gwoza town located at the
Nigeria-Cameroon border area, about 160 kilometres from Maiduguri, the
state capital.
Though the incident was not immediately reported due to poor
telephone services in the area, residents who called journalists in
Maiduguri yesterday said about 20 armed men reportedly invaded the
village on Sunday night, wielding their guns dangerously and warning
villagers against fleeing. “They ransacked people’s houses and shot
sporadically though not attempting to kill anybody.
“Some Boko Haram invaded our village (Warabe) on Sunday night,
abducted eight of our girls and then carted away our foodstuffs and
livestock. As I am talking to you now, I have moved to Gwoza for
safety,” a source said.
Neither the military nor the police in the state could confirm the
incident as at press time because the mobile telephone was inaccessible.
The Gwoza abduction came 22 days after a similar incident at Chibok,
also in southern Borno, where over 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped by the
insurgents in a dusk attack. A man suspected to be Abubakar Shekau,
leader of Boko Haram, had in a video released by the sect yesterday,
claimed responsibility for the abduction of Chibok girls, saying it was
done to demonstrate the sect’s abhorrence for western education. It was
uncertain at press time whether the insurgents were also responsible for
the latest abduction of the eight girls.
The Chief Coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Stephen Keshi,
has announced a provisional 30-man team for next month's FIFA World
World Cup in Brazil but many are surprised with the exclusion of in
form Villareal of Spain striker, Ikechukwu Uche.
The reigning African Champions
will be making their fifth appearance at football's showpiece and have
been drawn in the same group with Argentina, Iran and Bosnia.
As
usual, there are no surprises in the list as the likes of Vincent
Enyeama, Mikel Obi, Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Ahmed Musa and Victor
Moses are called up, while dark horses, Ramon Azeez, Michael Babatunde
and Azubuike Egwuekwe, make the list just like Parma of Italy midfield
ace Joel Obi and Stoke City of England repentant striker Peter
Odemwingie, return after several months in the international wilderness.
The African Champions have invited four goalkeepers, eight defenders, eight midfielders and ten strikers.
The full squad
Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim, Daniel Akpeyi.
Defenders:
Elderson Echiejile, Juwon Oshaniwa, Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona,
Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kenneth Omeruo, Joseph Yobo, Kunle Odunlami.
Midfielders: Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Ejike Uzoenyi, Sunday Mba, Reuben Gabriel, Nosa Igiebor, Joel Obi.
Strikers:
Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emenike, Obinna
Nsofor, Osaze Odemwingie, Babatunde Michael, Michael Uchebo, Nnamdi
Oduamadi, Nwofor Uche
Do you think these players merit a place in the team? And who do you think should have been in the list that is not there?
Ahead
of FIFA’s May 10 deadline for the submission of final list of players
selected to represent their countries at next month’s World Cup in
Brazil, the Nigeria Football Federation Tuesday released a provisional
list of 30 Super Eagles players for the mundial.
The list comprised of four goalkeepers. They are Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim and Daniel Akpeyi.
The
team’s defenders selected for the mundial are Elderson Echiejile, Juwon
Oshaniwa, Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kenneth
Omeruo, Joseph Yobo and Kunle Odunlami.
Osaze, Agbim and Yobo,
Also
in the team are John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Ejike
Uzoenyi Sunday Mba, Gabriel Reuben, Nosa Igiebor, Joel Obi and Michael
Uchebo. Others are Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Victor Moses, Emmanuel
Emenike, Victor Nsofor, Osaze Odemwingie , Babatunde Michael,Uche Nwafor
and Nnamdi Oduamadi.
The list which was read out by the Head Coach of the team Stephen Keshi was
released after he held a three-hour meeting with the NFF Technical Committee at the Glass House in Abuja.
He further stated that the final list of 23 players who would represent the nation in Brazil would be released on June 2.
Last
Monday Keshi had insisted that he was not arm-twisted by members of
the Nigeria Football Federation to include or drop any player in the
list.
He said he had a free hand from the NFF to select the best
players for the World Cup, but he was not averse to taking advice from
well-meaning Nigerians on squad composition.
According to him:,
“The NFF is our parent body and should be concerned about team
composition for the World Cup, because the body is made up of
well-meaning Nigerians. But to be honest to Nigerians, nobody in the NFF
has come to me to say pick player A or B. They respect my job as the
head coach and I respect them as my employers and there is no clash of
interest.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/05/brazil-2014-osaze-yobo-agbim-make-keshis-list/#sthash.gd0UsuZo.dpufgg
Ahead
of FIFA’s May 10 deadline for the submission of final list of players
selected to represent their countries at next month’s World Cup in
Brazil, the Nigeria Football Federation Tuesday released a provisional
list of 30 Super Eagles players for the mundial.
The list comprised of four goalkeepers. They are Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim and Daniel Akpeyi.
The
team’s defenders selected for the mundial are Elderson Echiejile, Juwon
Oshaniwa, Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kenneth
Omeruo, Joseph Yobo and Kunle Odunlami.
Osaze, Agbim and Yobo,
Also
in the team are John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Ejike
Uzoenyi Sunday Mba, Gabriel Reuben, Nosa Igiebor, Joel Obi and Michael
Uchebo. Others are Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Victor Moses, Emmanuel
Emenike, Victor Nsofor, Osaze Odemwingie , Babatunde Michael,Uche Nwafor
and Nnamdi Oduamadi.
The list which was read out by the Head Coach of the team Stephen Keshi was
released after he held a three-hour meeting with the NFF Technical Committee at the Glass House in Abuja.
He further stated that the final list of 23 players who would represent the nation in Brazil would be released on June 2.
Last
Monday Keshi had insisted that he was not arm-twisted by members of
the Nigeria Football Federation to include or drop any player in the
list.
He said he had a free hand from the NFF to select the best
players for the World Cup, but he was not averse to taking advice from
well-meaning Nigerians on squad composition.
According to him:,
“The NFF is our parent body and should be concerned about team
composition for the World Cup, because the body is made up of
well-meaning Nigerians. But to be honest to Nigerians, nobody in the NFF
has come to me to say pick player A or B. They respect my job as the
head coach and I respect them as my employers and there is no clash of
interest.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/05/brazil-2014-osaze-yobo-agbim-make-keshis-list/#sthash.gd0UsuZo.dpuf
Ahead
of FIFA’s May 10 deadline for the submission of final list of players
selected to represent their countries at next month’s World Cup in
Brazil, the Nigeria Football Federation Tuesday released a provisional
list of 30 Super Eagles players for the mundial.
The list comprised of four goalkeepers. They are Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim and Daniel Akpeyi.
The
team’s defenders selected for the mundial are Elderson Echiejile, Juwon
Oshaniwa, Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kenneth
Omeruo, Joseph Yobo and Kunle Odunlami.
Osaze, Agbim and Yobo,
Also
in the team are John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Ejike
Uzoenyi Sunday Mba, Gabriel Reuben, Nosa Igiebor, Joel Obi and Michael
Uchebo. Others are Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Victor Moses, Emmanuel
Emenike, Victor Nsofor, Osaze Odemwingie , Babatunde Michael,Uche Nwafor
and Nnamdi Oduamadi.
The list which was read out by the Head Coach of the team Stephen Keshi was
released after he held a three-hour meeting with the NFF Technical Committee at the Glass House in Abuja.
He further stated that the final list of 23 players who would represent the nation in Brazil would be released on June 2.
Last
Monday Keshi had insisted that he was not arm-twisted by members of
the Nigeria Football Federation to include or drop any player in the
list.
He said he had a free hand from the NFF to select the best
players for the World Cup, but he was not averse to taking advice from
well-meaning Nigerians on squad composition.
According to him:,
“The NFF is our parent body and should be concerned about team
composition for the World Cup, because the body is made up of
well-meaning Nigerians. But to be honest to Nigerians, nobody in the NFF
has come to me to say pick player A or B. They respect my job as the
head coach and I respect them as my employers and there is no clash of
interest.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/05/brazil-2014-osaze-yobo-agbim-make-keshis-list/#sthash.gd0UsuZo.dpuf
Ahead
of FIFA’s May 10 deadline for the submission of final list of players
selected to represent their countries at next month’s World Cup in
Brazil, the Nigeria Football Federation Tuesday released a provisional
list of 30 Super Eagles players for the mundial.
The list comprised of four goalkeepers. They are Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim and Daniel Akpeyi.
The
team’s defenders selected for the mundial are Elderson Echiejile, Juwon
Oshaniwa, Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kenneth
Omeruo, Joseph Yobo and Kunle Odunlami.
Osaze, Agbim and Yobo,
Also
in the team are John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Ejike
Uzoenyi Sunday Mba, Gabriel Reuben, Nosa Igiebor, Joel Obi and Michael
Uchebo. Others are Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Victor Moses, Emmanuel
Emenike, Victor Nsofor, Osaze Odemwingie , Babatunde Michael,Uche Nwafor
and Nnamdi Oduamadi.
The list which was read out by the Head Coach of the team Stephen Keshi was
released after he held a three-hour meeting with the NFF Technical Committee at the Glass House in Abuja.
He further stated that the final list of 23 players who would represent the nation in Brazil would be released on June 2.
Last
Monday Keshi had insisted that he was not arm-twisted by members of
the Nigeria Football Federation to include or drop any player in the
list.
He said he had a free hand from the NFF to select the best
players for the World Cup, but he was not averse to taking advice from
well-meaning Nigerians on squad composition.
According to him:,
“The NFF is our parent body and should be concerned about team
composition for the World Cup, because the body is made up of
well-meaning Nigerians. But to be honest to Nigerians, nobody in the NFF
has come to me to say pick player A or B. They respect my job as the
head coach and I respect them as my employers and there is no clash of
interest.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/05/brazil-2014-osaze-yobo-agbim-make-keshis-list/#sthash.gd0UsuZo.dpuf
Ahead
of FIFA’s May 10 deadline for the submission of final list of players
selected to represent their countries at next month’s World Cup in
Brazil, the Nigeria Football Federation Tuesday released a provisional
list of 30 Super Eagles players for the mundial.
The list comprised of four goalkeepers. They are Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim and Daniel Akpeyi.
The
team’s defenders selected for the mundial are Elderson Echiejile, Juwon
Oshaniwa, Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kenneth
Omeruo, Joseph Yobo and Kunle Odunlami.
Osaze, Agbim and Yobo,
Also
in the team are John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Ejike
Uzoenyi Sunday Mba, Gabriel Reuben, Nosa Igiebor, Joel Obi and Michael
Uchebo. Others are Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Victor Moses, Emmanuel
Emenike, Victor Nsofor, Osaze Odemwingie , Babatunde Michael,Uche Nwafor
and Nnamdi Oduamadi.
The list which was read out by the Head Coach of the team Stephen Keshi was
released after he held a three-hour meeting with the NFF Technical Committee at the Glass House in Abuja.
He further stated that the final list of 23 players who would represent the nation in Brazil would be released on June 2.
Last
Monday Keshi had insisted that he was not arm-twisted by members of
the Nigeria Football Federation to include or drop any player in the
list.
He said he had a free hand from the NFF to select the best
players for the World Cup, but he was not averse to taking advice from
well-meaning Nigerians on squad composition.
According to him:,
“The NFF is our parent body and should be concerned about team
composition for the World Cup, because the body is made up of
well-meaning Nigerians. But to be honest to Nigerians, nobody in the NFF
has come to me to say pick player A or B. They respect my job as the
head coach and I respect them as my employers and there is no clash of
interest.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/05/brazil-2014-osaze-yobo-agbim-make-keshis-list/#sthash.gd0UsuZo.dpuf
