The Nigerian government has said that 101 of the over 100 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram militants on February 19 have been released.
The girls were kidnapped from the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College from the Nigerian town of Dapchi in Yobe state.
The Buhari government was criticized for how it has handled the issue and its response to getting the girls rescued.
On Wednesday the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, told local media that “Yes, the girls are being transported to safety. We will give details later. We thank God.”
The country’s Information Minister Lai Mohammed also said the release was “unconditional” and the result of “back-channel efforts” with the help of “some friends of the country”.
Some residents in Dapchi have also been reported by Reuters to have said that some of the 110 schoolgirls abducted have been brought back.
Reuters reported that two witnesses had said that some of the girls were returned on Wednesday by individuals believed to be militants linked to Boko Haram.
The witnesses however were unable to tell how many of the abducted girls had been brought back. A military officer at a checkpoint near the town was quoted by Reuters as saying that “Boko Haram have brought the girls.”
Bashir Manzo, who heads a group set up to support parents whose children were abducted told the AFP that “The girls have been brought back. They were brought in nine vehicles and dropped outside the school at about 8:00 am (0700 GMT).”
A former Chairman for the Chibok community in Abuja, Tsambido Abana has also confirmed the release of the girls in an interview with local media saying that “I just spoke with a Chibok parent who is in contact with the parents of the Dapchi girls. He said the parents confirmed the release of the girls but we don’t know if all of the girls were released or not, but we can confirm that Boko Haram has released some of the Dapchi girls.”
The presidency of Nigeria had already announced that it was negotiating for the release of the 110 girls.
Boko Haram abduction of school girls from Chibok received worldwide condemnation and campaigns for their release. Some of the over 200 Chibok girls kidnapped have been release and rescued.
Source: Africafeeds.com
