The US has disclosed that it is flying manned surveillance missions over Nigeria to try to find the abducted schoolgirls
Although Washington did not disclose the type of aircraft it deployed but its officials said “the planes have sophisticated equipment that could listen into a wide range of mobile phone and telecommunications traffic.” These are functions usually associated with security drones.
A senior US administration official said: “With the permission of the Nigerian government, we are flying manned intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) assets over Nigeria and sharing commercial satellite imagery with the Nigerian government.
“We have shared commercial satellite imagery with the Nigerians and with the government’s permission,” said the senior administration official, who declined to be named.
No fewer than 30 US experts, including members of the FBI and defence and state departments, are in Nigeria to help with the search.
