The Presidency in the early hours of Sunday has issued an official statement confirming the release of about 82 Chibok girls by the Islamist terrorists’ organization, Boko Haram holding them captive.
The New Diplomat gathered in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu that the kidnapped girls reclaimed their freedom after lengthy negotiations, in exchange for Boko Haram suspects held by the Nigerian government authorities.
The statement read: “President Muhammadu Buhari is pleased to announce that negotiations to release more of the #ChibokGirls have yielded results.
“Today, 82 more #ChibokGirls were released.
“After lengthy negotiations,our security agencies have taken back these girls, in exchange for some Boko Haram suspects held by the authorities.”
He said the released #ChibokGirls are due to arrive Abuja on Sunday May 7, and will be received by the President.
According to the statement, the swap deal leading to the breakthrough was being brokered by the government of Switzerland following days of negotiations with the terrorists’ group.
“President Muhammadu Buhari expresses his deep gratitude to all who played a part in ensuring the success of this operation, as follows: Security agencies, the military, the Government of Switzerland, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and local and international NGOs.
“The President has repeatedly expressed his total commitment towards ensuring the safe return of the #ChibokGirls, and all other Boko Haram captives.
“The President has received detailed briefings from the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) at every stage of the negotiations/operation,” the statement concluded.
Last night, The New Diplomat had reported that the girls were in Banki near the Cameroonian border for medical checks before being airlifted to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state. All cameras from across the world are waiting to be turned on the girls when they arrive Abuja today, where they will be officially received by the presidency https://newdiplomatng.com/headline/boko-haram-releases-82-chibok-girls-no-confirmation-yet-presidency/
The released girls are among the about 276 abducted from their dormitories in a government secondary school in Chibok, Borno State in April 2014 as they prepared to write their Senior Secondary Certificate Exam (SSCE).
Twenty one of them were earlier released last October after negotiations between Boko Haram and the Nigerian government.
Two other girls were found separately, in addition to those who escaped on the night of their abduction. With the latest release, about 80 Chibok girls are now being held by the Boko Haram.
