​NIGERIA’S military says it is not aware of the twenty one Chibok schoolgirls released by the Boko Haram insurgents on Thursday.


The Defence Headquarters said it is conducting “serious operations to rescue them and other Nigerians in Boko Haram captivity.”

This was contained in a news alert from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday morning.

It stated: “Military is unaware of the release of some Chibok Girls but serious operations are on to rescue them and other Nigerians in Boko Haram’s captivity – DHQ.”

However, Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu on Thursday confirmed that 21 of the Chibok girls, out of the over 200 abducted in April 2014, are in the custody of the Department of State Services.

He said in a statement released Thursday, “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. The Director-General of the DSS, Malam Lawal Daura has just briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the matter.”

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