We reported some hours ago that some of the Chibok girls kidnapped in 2014 had been released. However it had not been confirmed what the story was published.
Now we can authoritatively confirm that indeed the number of schoolgirls released is 82. This confirmation was made by the Nigerian Government via Facebook post on The Aso Villa page.
STATE HOUSE PRESS STATEMENT
82 MORE CHIBOK GIRLS RELEASED
President Muhammadu Buhari is pleased to announce that negotiations to release more of the #ChibokGirls have yielded results.
Today, 82 more #ChibokGirls were released.
After lengthy negotiations,our security agencies have taken back these girls, in exchange for some Boko Haram suspects held by the authorities.
The released #ChibokGirls are due to arrive in Abuja tomorrow Sunday May 7, and will be received by the President.
President Muhammadu Buhari expresses his deep gratitude to all who played a part in ensuring the success of this operation, as follows: Security agencies, the military, the Government of Switzerland, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and local and international NGOs.
The President has repeatedly expressed his total commitment towards ensuring the safe return of the #ChibokGirls, and all other Boko Haram captives.
The President has received detailed briefings from the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) at every stage of the negotiations/operation.
Signed.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President -- Media and Publicity
May 6, 2017
According to Sahara Reporters, an online newspaper, the deal to release the Chibok girls involved the release of two senior Boko Haram commanders who had been in detention by the Nigerian Security services. It added that a combined team of military and Red Cross negotiators flew the detained Islamist commanders to Banki town in Borno state where they were handed over to a team of Boko Haram representatives. Thereafter the Boko Haram team brought out the 82 Chibok girls.
Sahara reporters adds that the Nigerian government also paid Boko Haram some money in addition to the release of the two detainees.
In October 2016, the Nigerian government struck a deal with the insurgents and 21 of the school girls were released
The names of the 82 girls have not yet been released.
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