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Boko Haram releases dozens of Chibok schoolgirls, say Nigerian officials Boko Haram releases dozens of Chibok schoolgirls, say Nigerian officials
(about 1 hour later)
Boko Haram militants have released dozens of schoolgirls out of a group of more than 200 kidnapped from the north-eastern town of Chibok in April 2014, officials in Nigeria have said. Boko Haram militants have released 83 schoolgirls out of a group of more than 200 kidnapped from the north-eastern town of Chibok in April 2014, officials in Nigeria have said.
A government minister, asking not to be named, said 82 girls had been released. Unconfirmed reports on social media put the number of freed girls at between 50 and 62. An unnamed government minister said 83 girls had been released.
“The girls were released through negotiations with the government,” one official said, adding that an official statement would follow shortly.“The girls were released through negotiations with the government,” one official said, adding that an official statement would follow shortly.
“Huge numbers,” the personal assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, tweeted late on Saturday.
A military source said the girls were currently in Banki near the Cameroon border for medical checks before being airlifted to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state.A military source said the girls were currently in Banki near the Cameroon border for medical checks before being airlifted to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state.
The kidnapping was one of the high-profile incidents of Boko Haram’s insurgency, now in its eighth year and with little sign of ending. About 220 were abducted from their school in a night-time attack. Family members said they were eagerly awaiting a list of names and that their “hopes and expectations are high”.
The kidnapping was one of the high-profile incidents of Boko Haram’s insurgency, now in its eighth year and with little sign of ending. About 220 girls were abducted from their school in a night-time attack.
More than 20 girls were released last October in a deal brokered by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Others have escaped or been rescued, but 195 were believed to be still in captivity prior to this release.More than 20 girls were released last October in a deal brokered by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Others have escaped or been rescued, but 195 were believed to be still in captivity prior to this release.
Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, said last month the government was in talks to secure the release of the remaining captives. President Buhari said last month that the government was in talks to secure the release of the remaining captives.
The abduction of the schoolgirls led to a series of campaigns calling for their release or rescue. A march on the Nigerian parliament with protesters dressed in red and promoted on Twitter under the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls quickly attracted global attention, with Michelle Obama among those offering their support.
Although the Chibok girls are the most high-profile case, Boko Haram has kidnapped thousands of adults and children, many of whose cases have been neglected.Although the Chibok girls are the most high-profile case, Boko Haram has kidnapped thousands of adults and children, many of whose cases have been neglected.
The militants have killed more than 20,000 people and displaced more than 2 million during their insurgency aimed at creating an Islamic caliphate in north-east Nigeria.The militants have killed more than 20,000 people and displaced more than 2 million during their insurgency aimed at creating an Islamic caliphate in north-east Nigeria.
Although the army has retaken much of the territory initially lost to Boko Haram, large parts of the north-east, particularly in Borno state, remain under threat from the militants. Suicide bombings and gun attacks have increased in the region since the end of the rainy season late last year.Although the army has retaken much of the territory initially lost to Boko Haram, large parts of the north-east, particularly in Borno state, remain under threat from the militants. Suicide bombings and gun attacks have increased in the region since the end of the rainy season late last year.
Timeline: Chibok schoolgirls’ kidnapping
April 2014 Boko Haram extremists kidnap 276 schoolgirls from Chibok in northern Nigeria, the region where the insurgency emerged several years ago.
November 2014 Extremists seize Chibok and the Nigerian army takes back the town.
May 2015 The new president, Muhammadu Buhari, is sworn in, pledging to tackle Boko Haram “head on”.
13 April 2016 A Boko Haram video appears to show some of the Chibok girls, and tearful mothers recognise their daughters.
18 May, 2016 A relative says one of the Chibok girls is found, pregnant, in a forest; pressure grows on Nigeria’s government to rescue the others.
14 August 2016 Boko Haram video says some Chibok girls have been killed in airstrikes and demands release of extremists in exchange for the remaining girls’ freedom.
13 October 2016 A spokesman for Nigeria’s president confirms that 21 Chibok girls have been freed, a result of government negotiations with Boko Haram. Nigeria’s government says another 83 girls would be released “very soon”.
5 November 2016 Military announces the first army rescue of a Chibok girl, during a raid on a forest hideout.
24 December 2016 Nigeria’s president declares that Boko Haram has been crushed, driven from its last forest hideout.
5 January 2017 Nigeria’s army says soldiers have found one of the schoolgirls wandering in the bush near the forest stronghold.
14 April 2017 Nigerians mark three years since the mass abduction.
6 May 2017 A Nigerian official says another 83 schoolgirls have been released.