U.S. 'will do everything possible' to help Nigerian government recover abducted schoolgirls

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, May 5 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry conveyed America's commitment to assisting the Nigerian government in their recovery of 230 girls abducted in April from their school by Boko Haram.

Speaking in Addis Ababa on Saturday, Kerry called the abductions "an unconscionable crime" and affirmed "we will do everything possible to support the Nigerian government to return these young women to their homes and to hold the perpetrators to justice."

Kerry indicated that such assistance will come in the form of continued "counterterrorism assistance to help Nigerian authorities to develop a comprehensive approach to combat Boko Haram..."

An unnamed senior State Department official acknowledged that the U.S. is consulting with the Nigerian government on how best to assist that effort. "Next week we will have a team going in to again consult with them on how we might be helpful. We’re already working with them in some areas and trying to do capacity-building to help them coordinate between their various security sectors."

Islamist militant group Boko Haram claimed responsibility for launching the attack on the all girls boarding school in the town of Chibok late in the evening on April 14. On Monday, alleged Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau vowed to sell the girls.