More details about the shocking release of some of the abducted Chibok girls have began to trickle in as government officials covertly speak to the press.
Some of the girls being escorted by soldiers
The Nigerian government has given an insight into the negotiations that led to the release of 21 Chibok school girls who were abducted on the 14th of April, 2014 by members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect.
A confirmation that the girls had been freed came on Thursday morning with several government officials confirming the success via their different social media accounts.
The latest success came after the intervention of the International Red Cross and the Swiss government according to the presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu who asserted talks will still continue between the government and the terrorist group.
Boko Haram demanded the release of its members held by the government, as condition for freeing the girls. Four top commanders of the sect were swapped for the 21 Chibok girls scheduled for a meeting with the Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.
The officials told Premium Times that the exchange took place on Wednesday night when Nigerian military officials, alongside personnel of United Nations, Red Cross and National Emergency Management Agency, conveyed four Boko Haram militants by a chopper to Banki, a border town in Bama local government area of Borno State.
There, 21 released girls were picked up. The girls were brought into Maiduguri Air Force base at about 8.30a.m. A source said 18 of the 21 girls had babies.
They were immediately flown to Abuja at 9a.m.
Many residents of Maiduguri were woken by the sounds of aircraft hovering in the air on Thursday morning.
A confirmation that the girls had been freed came on Thursday morning with several government officials confirming the success via their different social media accounts.
The latest success came after the intervention of the International Red Cross and the Swiss government according to the presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu who asserted talks will still continue between the government and the terrorist group.
Boko Haram demanded the release of its members held by the government, as condition for freeing the girls. Four top commanders of the sect were swapped for the 21 Chibok girls scheduled for a meeting with the Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.
The officials told Premium Times that the exchange took place on Wednesday night when Nigerian military officials, alongside personnel of United Nations, Red Cross and National Emergency Management Agency, conveyed four Boko Haram militants by a chopper to Banki, a border town in Bama local government area of Borno State.
There, 21 released girls were picked up. The girls were brought into Maiduguri Air Force base at about 8.30a.m. A source said 18 of the 21 girls had babies.
They were immediately flown to Abuja at 9a.m.
Many residents of Maiduguri were woken by the sounds of aircraft hovering in the air on Thursday morning.
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