The federal government of Nigeria says 91 of the 110 schoolgirls, abducted from Government Girls Science Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe state, returned Wednesday morning.
Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, in a statement said the release of the girls was “unconditional”.
“For the release to work, the government had a clear understanding that violence and confrontation would not be the way out as it could endanger the lives of the girls, hence a non-violent approach was the preferred option,” he said.
“Within the period when the girls were being brought back, operational pause was observed in certain areas to ensure free passage
and also that lives were not lost.”
In the statement, the minister said only 76 schoolgirls had been documented, but in a subsequent interview with journalists, he said the number had increased to 91.
The minister said the girls were not handed over to anyone but dropped off in Dapchi.
Mohammed said: “As of now, I can confirm that 91 girls and one boy have been released. Many of the girls children that were released were not dropped in one place but were dropped on the road.”
He said the girls were released around 3am through back-channel efforts and with the help of some friends of the country.
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