The Presidency has confirmed that Boko Haram insurgents have released 21 of the more than 200 abducted Chibok Schoolgirls.
The Senior Special Adviser on Media to President Buhari, Malam Garba Shehu, said the girls are now in the custody of the Directorate of State Services (DSS).
Shehu confirmed the release of the schoolgirls through his twitter handle on Thursday.
According to him, “The release of the girls, in a limited number is the outcome of negotiations between the administration and the Boko Haram brokered by the International Red Cross and the Swiss government.”
It was gathered that the girls were swapped for four Boko Haram insurgents.
Recall that Boko Haram had demanded the release of its members held by the government, as condition for freeing the girls.
Officials further revealed that the exchange took place Wednesday night when Nigerian military officials, alongside personnel of United Nations, Red Cross and National Emergency Management Agency, conveyed four Boko Haram militants by a chopper to Banki, a border town in Bama local government area of Borno State.
A source said that most of the girls were already nursing mothers.
In a related development, Obiageli Ezekwesili, leader of the BringBackOurGirls, says she can only “cry” and “weep” after learning of the freedom of 21 of the hundreds of Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram in 2014.
“I can only weep, right now. You know that kind of cry that is a mix of multiple emotions. Lord. Some of OUR Girls ARE BACK!!! B. A. C. K.!!” she tweeted.
“As WE @BBOG_Nigeria wait for FG and #ChibokParents identification of OUR 21 #ChibokGirls, THANK YOU, LORD. THANK YOU, @MBuhari .Thank you.”
“It is 4am in California and I can no longer sleep. Join me in singing the words of Psalm126… “When the Lord turned again the CAPTIVITY…”
That was an expression of her joy.
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[…] Recall that in October 2016, 21 of the Chibok girls were released by their Boko Haram abductors. Two… […]
[…] The first batch of 21 were freed last october with the aid of the Red Cross and a Switzerland. Three other girls walked into freedom on their own, making grand total of 106 girls freed from the clutches of Boko Haram. […]
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