Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, has promised to send a team of counter-terrorism experts to assist in the ongoing search and rescue operations for the schoolgirls.
According to a statement on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, Netanyahu made the promise in a telephone conversation with Jonathan on Sunday.
Abati said the Israeli leader called the President to convey his country’s sympathy and solidarity with Nigeria on the abduction as well as insurgency being experienced in parts of the country.
He quoted the Prime Minister as saying that the experts who would soon arrive in Nigeria, would work with their Nigerian counterparts and teams from the United States and Britain who are already in the country.
Abati further quoted Jonathan as expressing optimism that with the global support so far received by the Federal Government, success would soon be recorded in the search for the girls.
The statement reads in part, “President Jonathan said on Sunday in Abuja that he was very optimistic that with the entire international community deploying its considerable military and intelligence-gathering skills and assets in support of Nigeria’s efforts to find and rescue the abducted Chibok girls, success would soon be achieved.
“President Jonathan welcomed the offer by Mr. Netanyahu to send a team of Israeli counter-terrorism experts to assist in the ongoing search and rescue operations.
“The President briefed Mr. Netanyahu on actions already being taken by Nigeria’s armed forces and security agencies to locate and rescue the girls, saying that Nigeria would be pleased to have Israel’s globally-acknowledged anti-terrorism expertise deployed to support its ongoing operations.
“Mr. Netanyahu who expressed Israel’s total condemnation of the mass abductions… reaffirmed Israel’s willingness to give the government and people of Nigeria all possible support and assistance to overcome terrorism and insecurity.”