THE Nigerian government has given an insight into the negotiations that led to the release of 21 Chibok school girls.








A confirmation the girls had been freed came Thursday morning.


The girls –nearly 300 – were abducted by the extremist sect Boko Haram on April 14, 2014, from a secondary school in Chibok.


Some 50 of the girls managed to escape and about 218 of them are still missing.


Previous efforts by two Nigerian administrations to free the girls were not successful.


The latest success came after the intervention of the Red Cross and the Swiss government.


In his statement titled: ‘It Is Official, 21 Chibok Girls Now With Government” Shehu said “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.


“Th Director-General, Malam Lawal Daura just finished briefing the President H.E Muhammadu Buhari.


Shehu disclosed that “The release of the girls, in a limited number is the outcome of negotiations between the administration and the the Boko Haram brokered by the International Red Cross and the Swiss government. The negotiations will continue.


He said “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.


According to the presidency “Malam 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 Vice President,Professor Yemi Osinbajo.


“The President takes off shortly on a trip to Germany for a state visit.


Shehu said “The names of the released girls follows shortly”


Names of the militants were not released.


Boko Haram demanded the release of its members held by the government, as condition for freeing the girls.


Officials was quoted by Premium Times to have said 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.


There, 21 released girls were picked up. The girls were brought into Maiduguri Air Force base at about 8.30a.m.


A source said most of the girls had babies.


They were immediately flown to Abuja at 9a.m.


Many residents of Maiduguri were woken by the sounds of aircraft hovering in the air Thursday morning.

Adaahjacob:
i dont believe any news from the presidency again...... meanwhile, how will be referring to a woman with a baby as a girl?