ABUJA, Nigeria -- President Goodluck Jonathan met for the first time Tuesday with parents of 219 kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls and dozens of classmates who managed to escape from their Islamic extremist captors.
Jonathan assured them of his determination that those still in captivity "are brought out alive," presidential spokesman Reuben Abati said after the meeting, which he called "a very successful event."
Some of the girls described their escapes, and Jonathan gave assurances that the education of the girls and their still-captive classmates would not suffer in any way, Abati said.
"Mr. President reassured them of the federal government's determination and his personal determination to ensure that the girls that are still in captivity are brought out alive. He made it clear that is the main objective of the government," Abati said.
Journalists were prevented from speaking to the girls and the parents by Nigerian security.
The delegation of 177 people met with Jonathan, said Lawan Abana, spokesman for the community of Chibok, the town where the schoolgirls were kidnapped. The meeting included some of the 57 girls who escaped after their April 15 abduction.
At least 11 of the parents have died since the kidnappings -- seven in a village attack this month and four of heart attacks and other illnesses that the Chibok community blames on the trauma, residents have said.
Jonathan was accompanied to the meeting by the ministers of education and finance and by his national security adviser.
Also present was the Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno state, from which the girls were abducted. Shettima has accused Jonathan of not doing enough to rescue the girls and has angered the government with his charges that Boko Haram fighters are better armed and motivated than Nigeria's military.
The failure of Jonathan's government to rescue the girls has prompted an international campaign and daily rallies in Abuja, the capital, to ensure attention for the girls' plight.
Some of the parents and community leaders of Chibok have made public statements urging Jonathan to negotiate with the girls' captors. Boko Haram is demanding a swap for detained fighters in exchange for the girls. So far, Jonathan has refused.
Nigeria's Defense Ministry has said that it knows where the girls are being held but that it fears any military campaign could get them killed.
Jonathan has never before met with the parents or the escaped girls. In May, he canceled a planned trip to Chibok without explanation.
Last week, the parents canceled a meeting with Jonathan after activists who are campaigning for the girls' release said they were prevented from attending a scheduled meeting with the Senate president.
A Section on 07/23/2014