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Nigeria abducted schoolgirls: President to visit Chibok Nigeria abducted schoolgirls: President to visit Chibok
(about 5 hours later)
Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan will on Friday visit the north-eastern town where more than 200 schoolgirls were abducted, officials have said.Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan will on Friday visit the north-eastern town where more than 200 schoolgirls were abducted, officials have said.
Nothing was seen of the girls for almost a month after they were taken from Chibok by Boko Haram militants.Nothing was seen of the girls for almost a month after they were taken from Chibok by Boko Haram militants.
But on Monday the group released a video showing more than 100 of them and offering an exchange for prisoners.But on Monday the group released a video showing more than 100 of them and offering an exchange for prisoners.
The president has come under pressure over his government's failure to rescue the girls, but has ruled out a swap.The president has come under pressure over his government's failure to rescue the girls, but has ruled out a swap.
The UK's Africa Minister Mark Simmonds said Mr Jonathan "made it very clear that there will be no negotiation", at a meeting on Wednesday.
State of emergency
On Thursday, relatives of the girls called for their unconditional release.On Thursday, relatives of the girls called for their unconditional release.
"For me, I want these girls released without any negotiations," Ayuba Chibok, whose niece is among the hostages, told the AFP news agency by telephone from Chibok. But the UK's Africa Minister Mark Simmonds said Mr Jonathan had "made it very clear that there will be no negotiation" at a meeting on Wednesday.
"Even if Boko Haram wants to request something from the government, let them request something else." After visiting Chibok, President Jonathan will continue to Paris to take part in a summit convened by French President Francois Hollande to discuss Boko Haram.
US drones and surveillance aircraft have been deployed to assist in the search for the schoolgirls, while the UK has sent a military team to the capital, Abuja, to work alongside French and Israeli experts. The presidents of Nigeria's neighbours - Benin, Cameroon, Niger and Chad - are scheduled to attend the summit on Saturday, which will also include representatives from the UK, US and EU.
Meanwhile, the lower house of Nigeria's parliament, the House of Representatives, approved an extension of the state of emergency in the north-east states of Yobe, Borno and Adamawa. A statement said delegates at the meeting will "discuss fresh strategies for dealing with the security threat posed by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in west and Central Africa."
'Troubling atrocities'
Meanwhile, US officials on Thursday criticised the speed of Nigeria's response to the threat from Boko Haram.
Alice Friend, director for African affairs at the US defence department, said its security forces had been "slow to adapt with new strategies and new tactics."
She also said the US was unable to offer aid to Nigeria's military because of "troubling" atrocities perpetrated by some units during operations against Boko Haram.
"We cannot ignore that Nigeria can be an extremely challenging partner to work with," Ms Friend said.
State of emergency
US drones and surveillance aircraft have been deployed to assist in the search for the schoolgirls, while the UK has sent a military team to the capital, Abuja, to work alongside US, French and Israeli experts.
The lower house of Nigeria's parliament, the House of Representatives, approved an extension of the state of emergency in the north-east states of Yobe, Borno and Adamawa on Thursday.
President Jonathan had requested a six-month extension, calling the security situation in the region "daunting" and saying he was concerned by the mounting loss of life among civilians.President Jonathan had requested a six-month extension, calling the security situation in the region "daunting" and saying he was concerned by the mounting loss of life among civilians.
The state of emergency, which still needs to be approved by the Senate, gives the military widespread powers such as detaining suspects, imposing curfews and setting up roadblocks.The state of emergency, which still needs to be approved by the Senate, gives the military widespread powers such as detaining suspects, imposing curfews and setting up roadblocks.
There were reports of fresh attacks by suspected Boko Haram militants in Borno state on Thursday. On Thursday, there have been reports of fresh attacks by suspected Boko Haram militants in Borno state.
A witness told the BBC's Hausa Service that there had been explosions in the early morning in Gamboru Ngala, were some 300 people were killed last week in a massacre blamed on Boko Haram. When people tried to leave the town they were forced to return home, the witness said. A witness told the BBC's Hausa Service that there had been explosions in Gamboru Ngala, were some 300 people were killed last week in a massacre blamed on Boko Haram.
Two people were reportedly killed and many houses set alight in a separate attack on the village of Ngawa Fate. Some people suggested it might have been retaliation for the recent killings of about 200 militants by residents of other villages in the Konduga local government area.