William Hague announces new package of assistance to help Nigerian army combat Boko Haram, the Islamist group holding over 200 schoolgirls hostage
"It will include helping to train units employed on counter insurgence operations against Boko Haram in north-east Nigeria."
He added that the British Government will also be providing further assistance to Nigeria's regional security and intelligence cooperation.
The decision was announced after Mr Hague met with ministers from Nigeria, Chad, Benin, Niger and Cameroon on the penultimate day of the summit he is co-hosting with Angelina Jolie.
He said: "To ensure that we deal more effectively with Boko Haram and with incidents of this kind we've reached a series of important agreements today."
The African countries have agreed to work together to come up with comprehensive information about the Islamist insurgents, as well as run task force regional patrols.
All five countries also committed to improving development, girls' education and gender issues in their own countries, which are underlying causes of conflict in the region.
Mr Hague added: "We also want to make sure Boko Haram doesn't succeed in its twisted mission to deny education to girls.
"Together with the US we will boost our education programmes to draw a million more boys and girls into education in northern Nigeria.
"We'll be increasing our support for girls' education to better help those who are more vulnerable."
The new package follows UN measures that made it an offence to provide financial or material support to Boko Haram, including supplying arms or recruits.
Britain has been providing aircraft and other support alongside the United States air force in the search for the girls, who are thought to be being held in a forest region of northern Nigeria.
He added that the British Government will also be providing further assistance to Nigeria's regional security and intelligence cooperation.
The decision was announced after Mr Hague met with ministers from Nigeria, Chad, Benin, Niger and Cameroon on the penultimate day of the summit he is co-hosting with Angelina Jolie.
He said: "To ensure that we deal more effectively with Boko Haram and with incidents of this kind we've reached a series of important agreements today."
The African countries have agreed to work together to come up with comprehensive information about the Islamist insurgents, as well as run task force regional patrols.
All five countries also committed to improving development, girls' education and gender issues in their own countries, which are underlying causes of conflict in the region.
Mr Hague added: "We also want to make sure Boko Haram doesn't succeed in its twisted mission to deny education to girls.
"Together with the US we will boost our education programmes to draw a million more boys and girls into education in northern Nigeria.
"We'll be increasing our support for girls' education to better help those who are more vulnerable."
The new package follows UN measures that made it an offence to provide financial or material support to Boko Haram, including supplying arms or recruits.
Britain has been providing aircraft and other support alongside the United States air force in the search for the girls, who are thought to be being held in a forest region of northern Nigeria.
Britain has pledged a new package of assistance to help the Nigerian army confront extremist group Boko Haram.
William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, said the UK has agreed to provide tactical support along with the US and France.
It comes as Boko Haram are still holding more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls hostage.
Mr
Hague, speaking at the global summit to end sexual violence against
women, said: "We will increase our work with the Nigerian government to
strengthen its capacity, to deal with Boko Haram.
"This will mean significantly expanding the training and tactical assistance that the UK provides to the Nigerian armed forces.
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