by ‘Jola Sotubo

As the schoolgirls kidnapped from Chibok in Borno spend their 34th day in captivity, international efforts towards ensuring their rescue have continued to intensify.

A British spy plane is said to have departed for West Africa yesterday to aid surveillance efforts in finding the over 200 missing girls.

The Sentinel reconnaissance aircraft, a high-tech surveillance jet will join the aircraft already released by the United States of America to search for the girls.

The British Defence Secretary, Philip Hammond said:

“The kidnap of these girls is a reprehensible act which has drawn international condemnation.

“I am pleased that Britain’s armed forces have been able to support the international search operation and provide the specialist skills which could help the Nigerians locate their missing children.”

The Nation reports:

The plane is fitted with radar which can locate moving targets and provide detailed pictures of activity on the ground.

The jet is operated by a five-man crew and is capable of flying for significant periods of time at high altitude.

“The Sentinel with its wide area search capability and long endurance is perfect for this task,” said Rich Barrow, RAF Waddington’s station commander.

“UK personnel will help to analyse the information gathered to improve the intelligence picture for the Nigerian authorities.”

On Saturday, Foreign Secretary William Hague urged West African countries to unite in order to defeat Boko Haram during a crisis meeting in Paris.

Mr Hague added that the UK and other nations must do more to support regions where Boko Haram operates.

“More will need to be done in the north of Nigeria in terms of clean water, healthcare, education and so on,” he said.