The Nigerian government announced that it has secured the release of 82 school girls abducted by the Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram.
Presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu said in a statement Sunday that the girls were exchanged for some Boko Haram “suspects” held by the government, according to local newspaper Premium Times.
It is unclear how many Boko Haram prisoners were released in exchange for the girls.
The girls were released on Saturday, after successful negotiations occurred among the Swiss government, the Red Cross Society, and a few private individuals trusted by both sides.
The released group of girls are part of the 276 girls — often referred to as the “Chibok girls” — who were abducted from their school as they took exams in the village of Chibok, in northeastern Nigeria, in April 2014.
After negotiating their freedom, the girls were brought by a convoy of Red Cross vehicles from a remote area to a military base in Banki near the Nigerian border with Cameroon. They then boarded military helicopters and were flown to the capital, Abuja, to meet with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari at the statehouse.
Receiving the girls, President Buhari said he was deeply grateful to security agencies, the military, the government of Switzerland, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and local and international NGOs for the role they played in the operation.
“On behalf of all Nigerians, I will like to share my joy with you, your parents, your relatives, friends, and government of Borno State on regaining your freedom,” Mr. Buhari said.
“The federal government will like to commend the security agencies, the Red Cross, local authorities, local and foreign NGOs, and all those who contributed in one way or another to secure the release of our Chibok Girls.
“Let me reassure Nigerians, especially relatives and friends of the remaining girls, that the federal government will spare no effort to see that they and all other Nigerians who have been abducted safely regain their freedom.”
Nigerian authorities have repeatedly stated that they would settle for negotiations to secure the release of the girls instead of a military strike, which carries the likelihood of high collateral damage that puts the lives of the girls at risk.
Saturday’s release of the 82 girls brings the number of girls released by Boko Haram to 103.
Last October, Nigerian authorities secured the release of 21 girls, after negotiations with Boko Haram were brokered by the Red Cross and the government of Switzerland.
Out of the original 274 girls seized by the Boko Haram militants in April 2014, about 113 girls remain in captivity and their fate is unknown.
Anthony Madu, the 14-year-old Nigerian dancer from Lagos who gained admission to a prestigious ballet…
Actor-host Wayne Brady recently opened up about his early financial struggles in his now thriving…
Mia Arianna, also known as @mia.ariannaa on TikTok, helped her son become an honorary team…
Alvin Gauthier, a Grand Prairie USPS postman, recently went above and beyond to brighten a…
Maj. Gen. Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed is the first female commander of the air force and…
Benjamin E. Mays High School brought together its 272 senior class members for a meeting…
Afrika Owes' emotional response to learning that she had passed the bar exam on her…
A 49-year-old New York attorney was on April 26 sentenced to 10 years in federal…
During an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Wednesday, pop legend Cher opened up…
Authorities in Florida said an 11-year-old boy was accidentally shot and killed by his 14-year-old…
The famous Taylor Schlitz family is making headlines once more as the youngest of the…
Sony Pictures Entertainment has appointed Tahra Grant as its Chief Communications Officer. She replaces Robert…
Meet Ashley M. Fox, the founder of Empify and the first in her family to…
Tyra Banks, the iconic former host of Dancing With the Stars, has made a delightful…
A Brazilian woman named Érika de Souza, 42, is under investigation for manslaughter after authorities…