Canada part of effort to free 300 Nigerian school girls from terrorist’s grip

OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper has acknowledged that Canadians have joined an international effort to free almost 300 schoolgirls kidnapped by a west African Islamic terrorist extremist group.

But specific details about the extent and duration of the involvement are being kept under a tight blanket of secrecy.

The U.S. State Department said Tuesday that American surveillance planes have begun flying missions over a remote area of Nigeria as part of a mounting international effort to find and rescue the teenaged girls abducted by the violent jihadist group Boko Haram.

Washington has acknowledged that it is providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support.

Britain, France and China have also sent teams to Nigeria to help with the search.

The Harper government has been eager to be seen responding to the international outcry over the girls, but it will not say what equipment or personnel — civilian or military — have been committed to the fight.