Presidency Confirms Release Of 21 Chibok Girls

By Ebitonye Akpodigha

The Presidency has confirmed the release on Thursday morning of 21 out of the over 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram group in 2014.

In a statement issued Thursday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, disclosed that the 21 girls were now in the “custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).”

According to him, “the Director-General, Malam Lawal Daura just finished briefing President Muhammadu Buhari.”

He said further in the statement that, “The release of the girls, in a limited number is the outcome of negotiations between the administration and the Boko Haram brokered by the International Red Cross and the Swiss government.”

The negotiations, Mr Garba said, “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.

“Malam 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 Presidency said.

“The names of the released girls follow shortly,” Mr Shehu concluded.