President Jonathan cancels Chibok visit over security reasons

President Goodluck Jonathan has called off a visit to the town where more than 200 schoolgirls were abducted, officials said.

Sources had told the BBC he would stop in Chibok, in Borno State, on his way to a conference in France where strategies to tackle the Boko Haram threat would be discussed.

But the visit was called off for security reasons, the officials said.

The President – under pressure over his government’s failure to rescue the girls – will fly direct to Paris. The BBC says the cancellation of this visit underlines just how fragile the security situation is in the north-east.

On Thursday, the girls’ relatives called for their unconditional release by Boko Haram. Jonathan is said to have ruled out negotiations over a possible release of prisoners. Nothing was seen of the girls for almost a month after they were taken from Chibok.

But on Monday the group released a video showing more than 100 of them and offering an exchange for prisoners.

Meanwhile, The Presidency yesterday denied any plan for President Goodluck Jonathan to visit Chibok, Borno State yesterday.

According to Twitter account of the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati on Friday, the was not scheduled to visit Chibok as widely reported yesterday.

He said: “Every trip by the President is usually pre-announced. The Presidency did not at any time announce a trip to Chibok today (Friday). Ignore rumours.”

Culled from The Nation News