Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has described the April 14 abduction of more than 200 girls by Boko Haram from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, could be a turning point in the battle against the insurgents.

“I believe that the kidnap of these girls will be the beginning of the end of terror in Nigeria,” Jonathan said today while addressing delegates at the World Economic Forum for Africa holding at Transcorp Hilton Hotel in the capital, Abuja.

He thanked China, the US, the UK and France for their offers of help to rescue the girls and for attending the on-going Forum “especially at this time that as a nation we are facing attacks of terrorists,” describing their presence as a “major blow for the terrorists.”

“If you had refused to come because of fear, the terrorists would have jubilated,” Jonathan stated.

The summit, ending tomorrow, has seen Abuja shut down for the three days duration, with all government workers given a holiday ostensibly to ease traffic flow during the event being attended by about 1,000 business and political leaders from various parts of the world.

•Photo shows President Jonathan speaking at the World Economic Forum in Abuja.