Nigerian security officials have confirmed to SaharaReporters that today’s release of 21 Chibok schoolgirls was secured after intense negotiations with the Islamist terror group, Boko Haram, adding that the Federal Government agreed to swap four high-profile Boko Haram detainees for the freed girls. Our sources said the Boko Haram fighters had been in detention for months.
Our sources said the International Red Cross and the Swiss government brokered the deal that yielded the release of 21 girls. The 21 freed girls were among more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram in mid-April 2014 from a school where they were gathered to sit exams. Before today’s release of the 21 girls, 219 of them were still in captivity. The leader of the BringBackOursGirls movement in Nigeria, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili said 197 of the girls remain in captivity after today's rescue of 21 of the kidnapped girls.
Earlier today, one of our sources had broken the news of the release of the Chibok girls, disclosing that a government chopper had left to Banki with four Boko Haram militants and returned with 21 girls.
A security source in Maiduguri told SaharaReporters that, out of the 21 girls, 18 had had babies. We could not independently confirm that information.
The 21 girls were flown into the Nigeria Air Force base in Maiduguri where military doctors briefly evaluated their medical condition. They were then flown to Abuja aboard a military jet at 9:51 a.m. Nigerian time. A source at the Presidency confirmed the girls ahve arrived Abuja and are currently receiving attention from a team of medical professionals.
President Buhari's office confirmed the release of the Chibok girls after the Director-General of the Department of State Security, Lawal Daura, briefed the president at the State House.
President Buhari has traveled to Germany for what was described as an official visit. Governors Kashim Shettima of Borno State and Rochas Okorocha of Imo State accompanied the president on the trip.
When SaharaReporters contacted a parent of one of the abducted Chibok girls, he said the community had heard of the release of some girls, but added that the Nigerian government had yet to invite any of the parents of the abducted girls to come and identify the freed girls. He expressed hope that the government would expedite the release or rescue of the Chibok girls who remain in the clutches of Boko Haram militants.
In a tweet, presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, said the names of the 21 released schoolgirls would be released shortly.
