to help in locating the more than 200 abducted schoolgirls by Boko
Haram insurgents since April 14 this year.
The three RAF Tornado GR4s outfitted with surveillance equipment,
according to Daily Mail, are being deployed to Nigeria to "fly
reconnaissance missions" over the Sambissa forest the Islamist
extremist sect is known to operate in.
A source at the British government told The Times that the fighter
bombers would help the Nigerian authorities by tracking the movements
of Boko Haram militants.
The report added that the mission was dependent on a nearby nation
giving them permission to use a runway.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman did not deny the report about the
deployment of the planes.
"The UK continues to work with the US, France, Nigeria, its neighbours
and international partners to provide advice and assistance to the
Nigerian Government.
"Together with our allies we have provided continuous surveillance
support to the Nigerian authorities, including satellite imagery. We
are still in discussion with partners on the deployment of further
surveillance capability," he said.
On Friday, last week, Britain's Minister for Africa, James Duddridge
had condemned the abduction of over 100 people in Nigeria and had
pledged that the United Kingdom would continue to support in the fight
against the terrorist group.
He said, "I am appalled to see reports of another large abduction by
terrorists in the north east of Nigeria. Officials at the British High
Commission in Abuja are urgently looking into the details. The UK
stands firmly with Nigeria as it faces the scourge of Boko Haram."
The group on Monday killed at least three people and kidnapped 15
others in a fresh cross-border attack in northern Cameroon.
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