The Presidency has confirmed that 21 of the over 200 girls abducted from their school iin Chibok, Borno State in April 2014 by Boko Haram, have been set free.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, confirmed this in a statement made available to the press.
He said the freed girls are currently in the custody of the Department of State Services.
Shehu said the Director-General of the DSS, Lawal Daura had briefed President Muhammadu Buhari of the development shortly before Buhari left for Germany.
According to the statement Daura would hand over the girls to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo after they must have rested enough.
Shehu explained that the release of the girls is the result of negotiations between the government and the Boko Haram sect, brokered by the International Red Cross and the Swiss government.
He said, “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.
“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.
“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. The names of the released girls follows shortly.”
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