US Sends Troops to Chad on Nigerian Schoolgirl Hunt

Troops Will Support Overall Search Operation on Nigeria Border

President Obama has informed Congress today that approximately 80 troops have been sent to Chad in a “support” capacity to take part in the search for 276 kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls.

The troops, mostly Air Force personnel, will handle surveillance flights and drone flights over the area along the Chad-Nigeria border, where the girls are believed to be held.

The Predator drones are now being flown out of the Chad capital of N’Djamena, and officials say the troops maintaining those drones will remain until the kidnapping situation is resolved.

US flights have been scanning the area for 10 days, and have provided no details on what, if anything, they’ve found during that time.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.