21 abducted Chibok schoolgirls released

October 13, 2016

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The Chibok girls and one of their abductors in a recent video

The Presidency has confirmed that Boko Haram insurgents have released  21 of the more than 200 abducted Chibok Schoolgirls.

According to the Senior Special Adviser Media to the President, Malam Garba Shehu, the girls are now in the custody of the Directorate of State Services (DSS).

Shehu confirmed the release of the schoolgirls through his twitter handle on Thursday.

The release of the 21 girls coincides with President Muhammadu Buhari three-day trip to Germany.

More than 270 girls were abducted on 14th April, 2014 at the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State.

The girls were writing their final exit examination when the insurgents broke into their hostel in the middle of the night and abducted the girls. Some of them escaped, leaving more than 219 with the insurgents.

The government had accepted to negotiate the release of the schoolgirls.

The abduction had provoked world’s outrage.

Information and culture minister Lai Mohammed recently explained that the government made three moves to secure 50 of the schoolgirls.

He reported that the government went to the extent of trying to exchange some Boko Haram sect prisoners for the girls as requested by the leadership of the insurgents, but the insurgents failed to honour the exchange.

Chibok-based Socio-cultural group on the platform of Kibaku Area Development Association, had commended the willingness of the federal government to negotiate and secure he release.

“Kubaku” is the umbrella of the Chibok communities which include Ymir Ali,Njoma, Gwandan Rimirgu, Mikabu as well as Chanchan bulguma in Askira Uba axis of southern Borno.
The National Secretary of Kubaku, Mr Muhammad Askira, said that the hope of the parents to reuniting with their wards had been rekindled by federal government’s agreement to negotiate with Boko Haram.

“It is the obligation of the federal government to use every available opportunity given to rescue of our daughter.

“If the Boko Haram are sincere with what they have said, we believed our girls will be surely rescued.

“We are forever indebted and grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari for his empathy, commitment and political will in the fight against the insurgency.

Source; nan