Nearly 30 US personnel aiding in Nigeria search for kidnapped girls

White House press secretary Jay Carney. AP

WASHINGTON — The White House says the U.S. team assisting the Nigerian government’s search for nearly 300 abducted schoolgirls is made up of nearly 30 people drawn from the State and Defense departments, as well as the FBI.

According to spokesman Jay Carney, the team includes 10 Defense Department planners who were already in Nigeria and were redirected to assist the government.

Another seven Defense Department personnel were sent to Nigeria from AFRICOM, the U.S. Africa Command based in Germany.

The team also includes 4 FBI personnel and five State Department officials.

The girls were abducted from their school dormitory in remote northeastern Nigeria more than a month ago.