Parents of the schoolgirls abducted by militant Islamists in Nigeria have denied playing politics by refusing to meet President Goodluck Jonathan.
Tuesday’s meeting failed to take place because proper “protocol” had not been followed, their spokesman said.
Mr Jonathan said the parents had called off the meeting after being manipulated by the #BringBackOurGirls campaign group.
Boko Haram captured more than 200 girls in the town of Chibok on 14 April.
The row broke out as the alleged mastermind of a twin bomb attack in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, was extradited from Sudan back to Nigeria.
Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche was reportedly arrested in Khartoum in May after Interpol issued an arrest warrant.
He is accused of planning the Nyanya bus station bombings earlier this year, which killed 75 people.
Boko Haram said it carried out the bombings.
‘In pain’
Mr Jonathan declared a state of emergency in three north-eastern states last year to quell the insurgency, but Boko Haram has stepped up attacks since then.
It caused an international outcry in April when it abducted the girls.
#BringBackOurGirls was a global campaign launched on social media to secure their release.
Who are Boko Haram?
- Founded in 2002
- Initially focused on opposing Western education – Boko Haram means “Western education is forbidden” in the Hausa language
- Launched military operations in 2009 to create Islamic state
- Thousands killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria – also attacked police and UN headquarters in capital, Abuja
- Some three million people affected
- Declared terrorist group by US in 2013
Mr Jonathan was widely criticised for failing to meet distraught parents and not doing enough to rescue the girls.
On Monday, he agreed to meet 12 parents and five girls who escaped shortly after being seized by Boko Haram, following a request by Pakistani rights campaigner Malala Yousafzai.
The parents called off the meeting because they did not have a mandate from the Chibok community, said their spokesman, Dauda Iliya.
The decision had “nothing” to do with the #BringBackOurGirls campaign group, he told BBC Focus on Africa.
“We are in pain. We can’t bear any animosity to the government,” Mr Iliya said.
Mr Jonathan said “political forces” in the #BringBackOurGirls campaign group derailed the meeting.
Nigeria is due to hold presidential elections next year.
Mr Jonathan has not yet declared his candidature, but speculation is rife that he intends to run for another term.
On Monday, about 45 people were killed following fighting in Dille village in north-eastern Borno state, residents told the BBC.
Local vigilantes fought back after Boko Haram raided the village, killing 20 of the attackers, residents said.
About 25 villagers were also killed by Boko Haram and the Nigerian military, they added.
A military jet flew over the village some five hours after Boko Haram’s raid, opening fire and killing civilians, residents said.
The military has not commented on the allegation.
Source: BBC