ABUJA — Nigeria accepted on Tuesday an offer from U.S. President Barack Obama to deploy security personnel and assets to help rescue scores of schoolgirls abducted last month by the Boko Haram militant group.

"President Goodluck Jonathan welcomed and accepted a definite offer of help from the U.S. in the ongoing effort to locate and rescue the girls abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok three weeks ago," Reuben Abati, special adviser to the president, said in a statement mailed to Anadolu Agency.

According to the statement, the U.S. will deploy security personnel and assets to work with their Nigerian counterparts in the search and rescue operation.

On April 14, militants stormed the school in Chibok, located on the fringes of the Sambisa Forest, a known Boko Haram hideout.