The US has no plans yet to launch a military action in Nigeria, where extremist group Boko Haram recently abducted nearly 300 girls, and is only contemplating military assistance to help find them.
“We are not contemplating at this point an active military operation. We are contemplating military assistance that could be provided and that would advice the Nigerian government as they work to find these girls,” said White House Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest.
There are about 70 military personnel in Nigeria and 20 Marines have been there for training.
“I would not contemplate a deployment of troops to begin an active military operation. But there are military resources that can be brought to bear; there is some law enforcement expertise and resources that can be brought to bear to assist the Nigerian government in their efforts to find these girls,” he said.
“There are also resources that other countries who are similarly outraged by what has taken place there, who have also committed to providing some assistance to the Nigerian government,” he said.
“We are going to coordinate those efforts with the international community,” Mr. Earnest said.