(JTA) — In the search for more than 200 abducted schoolgirls, Nigeria will not be able to use Israeli drones it purchased due to poor maintenance.
The drones were purchased in 2006, according to anonymous officials who spoke to Reuters, but Nigeria has never asked its Israeli manufacturer, Aeronautics Defense Systems, to perform routine maintenance.
“To the best of our knowledge, these systems aren’t operational,” Tsur Dvir, the company’s marketing official, told Reuters. “They are probably parked in a yard somewhere.”
Israel has also sent intelligence personnel to advise Nigeria’s government in the search for the girls, who were kidnapped last month by the Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram. British, French and U.S. advisers also have gone to Nigeria.
