Business Standard

Nigerian president cancels visit to abducted schoolgirls' town

Image

IANS London

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has called off due to security reasons a visit to the town where 200 girls were abducted last month, media reported Friday.

Jonathan was due to make a stop in the north-eastern town of Chibok on his way to France to meet President Francois Hollande to discuss the Islamist militant group Boko Haram which has abducted the girls, BBC reported.

More than 200 girls were abducted April 14.

The Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the mass kidnapping last week and has threatened to sell the girls.

Hollande is scheduled to head the 'Paris summit for security in Nigeria' May 17 to discuss the abductions.

 

Leaders from Nigeria's neighbours Benin, Cameroon, Niger and Chad are scheduled to attend the summit Saturday, which will also include representatives from Britain, the US and the European Union (EU).

Jonathan has been criticised by Nigerian authorities for not visiting Chibok even after a month since the abductions.

Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel

First Published: May 16 2014 | 5:10 PM IST

Explore News