Nigerian leader visiting town of abducted girls

A community leader of the town from which Islamic extremists abducted more than 300 schoolgirls a month ago say an expected visit from Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan is “better late than never.”

Chibok residents have expressed anger at the failure to rescue the girls whom the militants are threatening to sell into slavery unless the government frees detained insurgents. British officials say Mr. Jonathan has told them he will not consider an exchange.

Community leader Pobu Bitrus told AP that residents expect Mr. Jonathan on Friday on a visit that is “better late than never.”

The presidency said Mr. Jonathan is travelling later Friday to Paris for a French-organized summit including leaders of Nigeria’s four neighbours to discuss how to address the regional threat posed by Nigeria’s homegrown Boko Haram terrorist network.

AP reports further :

Amid apparent security concerns, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has cancelled a trip to the traumatized town from which Islamic extremists abducted more than 300 schoolgirls a month ago.

Two officials in the presidency confirmed the cancellation on Friday. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not supposed to give information to reporters.

It would have been the first reported visited by Nigeria’s leader to Chibok, in the northeastern region that has suffered for five years deadly assaults by Boko Haram.

A Chibok community leader had said Friday that though residents had been angry at his government’s slow response to the girls’ plight, they did not hold it against the president and considered the visit “better late than never.”