President Jonathan To Discuss Boko Haram In Paris

President Goodluck Jonathan will on Friday participate in a summit convened by President Francois Hollande in Paris, France, to discuss fresh strategies for dealing with the security threat posed by Boko Haran and other terrorist groups in West and Central Africa.

This is contrary to an earlier report that the President would visit Chibok, the community in Borno State, where over 200 schoolgirls were abducted by members of the Boko Haram sect.

Reuters had on Thursday reported that the President would visit the North Eastern State, quoting senior government officials.

President Jonathan would be joined at the summit in Paris by Heads of State and Government of Benin Republic, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.

In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, it said that “Britain, 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 and neigbouring countries in the wake of the recent abduction of college girls from Chibok, Borno state.”

President Jonathan, would be accompanied 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 and would return to Abuja at the conclusion of the summit on Saturday.