“21 Chibok girls released after negotiations with Boko Haram” – Buhari confirms
The Nigerian government says Boko Haram released 21 abducted Chibok girls after rounds of negotiations.
The talks, brokered by the International Red Cross and the Swiss government, will continue in order to free more Chibok girls, the Presidency says.
“It is confirmed that 21 of the missing Chibok Girls have been released and are in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS,” presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu said on Thursday.
“The Director-General Lawal Daura just finished briefing President Muhammadu Buhari.
“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. The negotiations will continue.
“The President welcomes the release of the girls but cautioned Nigerians to be mindful of the fact that more than 30,000 fellow citizens were killed via terrorism.
“Lawal wants the girls to have some rest, with all of them very tired coming out of the process before he hands them over to the VP.
“The President takes off shortly on a trip to Germany for a state visit.
“The names of the released girls follows shortly,” he said.
The news came as President Muhammadu Buhari prepares to fly to Germany for a state visit.
He said the development is the result of his administration’s hard work regarding security.
“We are getting security right,” he said.
“We are stopping corruption in its tracks and we will get the economy right by the Grace of God.”
Boko Harma terrorists, who want to turn Nigeria into an Islamic Caliphate, kidnapped at least 270 schoolgirls from a school in Chibok in April 2014. The mass kidnapping was condemned globally.
Boko Haram is fading out of memory as Nigerian forces continue record huge victories against the terrorists.
President Muhmmadu Buhari had vowed he would not declare victory against the terrorist till the abducted Chibok girls are returned to their families.
In May, Nigerian vigilantes and soldiers found 19-year-old Amina Ali Nkeki on the outskirt of Sambisa forest. She was with a young child and a man who claimed to be her husband.
Amina was one of the kidnapped girls, it was concluded.
