Abduction: 33 Days After Jonathan Visits Chibok

Thirty three days after Boko Haram insurgents abducted more than 246 girls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, President Goodluck Jonathan will today officially visit the village that has become the epicenter of a growing international outcry and efforts to rescue the girls.
A statement by the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said that the President will visit the village to things for himself along with some members of the Federal Executive Council, Military and security as well as other top government functionaries.
The statement added that the President will seize the opportunity to meet with families of the abducted girls, while at the time visit the ill-fated school.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan will travel to Paris, France, later today  to participate in a summit convened by President Francois Hollande to discuss fresh strategies for dealing with the security threat posed by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in West and Central Africa.
A statement issued yesterday by the President’s media aide, Dr. Reuben Abati, said President Jonathan will be joined at the summit by Heads of State and Government of Benin Republic, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
Officials from Britain, United States and the European Union are also expected to attend the summit, put together to discuss a coordinated response to Boko Haram and other terror agents.
The statement said, “It is also expected that Britain, the United States of America and the European Union will be represented at the talks which will give special attention to the coordination and intensification of efforts to curtail the destabilizing activities of Boko Haram in Nigeria and neighbouring countries in the wake of the recent abduction of college girls from Chibok, Borno State.”
The President will be accompanied on the trip by the Minister of Defence, Lt-Gen. Aliyu Gusau (rtd), the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) as well as other principal aides and advisers.
President Hollande had on Sunday offered to host the summit following the global outrage that trailed last month’s abduction of the schoolgirls from their hostels at the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.
“With Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, I have proposed to hold a meeting with the countries bordering Nigeria. If the countries agree, it should take place next Saturday, “the French leader said during a visit to Azerbaijan’s capital Baku on Monday.
President Jonathan returns to the country at the end of the meeting on Sunday.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs 1, Prof. Viola Onwuliri (left), holding a lighted candle symbolising the light that will drive away darkness in Nigeria during a protest over abducted Chibok School Girls in Owerri On Tuesday.