US drone joins search for Chibok girls

A U.S drone has reportedly joined the search for the more than 200 schoolgirls abducted last month in Chibok, Borno State by Nigerian terrorist group, Boko Haram.

The “Global Hawk” — the U.S. military’s high-altitude, long-endurance aerial drone — flew its first surveillance mission over Nigeria on Tuesday in search of some 276 school girls kidnapped by the Boko Haram terrorist group, U.S. officials told NBC News.

With a wingspan of just over 130 feet, the Global Hawk’s air time is a huge advantage in surveillance operations: It can remain airborne for 28 hours with a range of 8,700 miles and has a top speed of 310 knots (357 mph), according to the Air Force.

The Global Hawk also has a variety of surveillance systems including radar, optical and infrared sensors.

The drone joins the manned, propeller driven MC-12 surveillance aircraft which has already been conducting surveillance flights over Nigeria. The U.S. first flew the MC- 12 over Iraq then Afghanistan and is considered a low-cost workhorse in short-range missions.

The U.S. has joined countries including the U.K., China and Israel in offering to help Nigeria rescue the girls from Boko Haram.

According to a report by Bloomberg, there are limits to how closely the American military can work with Nigeria, U.S. officials said. A law called the Leahy Amendment bars direct aid to any foreign military that abuses human rights. Secretary of State John Kerry last year said there were “credible allegations that Nigerian forces are committing gross human rights violations.”

 

Agency Reports