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Nigeria Dapchi abductions: Schoolgirls finally home | Nigeria Dapchi abductions: Schoolgirls finally home |
(about 1 hour later) | |
More than 100 Nigerian schoolgirls, most of those recently kidnapped by Boko Haram, have gone home to their families, four days after being freed. | More than 100 Nigerian schoolgirls, most of those recently kidnapped by Boko Haram, have gone home to their families, four days after being freed. |
The jihadist group abducted the girls from the town of Dapchi in February. | The jihadist group abducted the girls from the town of Dapchi in February. |
After their release from captivity and a brief emotional meeting with their parents, the schoolgirls were flown to the capital to meet the president. | After their release from captivity and a brief emotional meeting with their parents, the schoolgirls were flown to the capital to meet the president. |
The girls - warned by Boko Haram not to return to school - were escorted back to Dapchi by Nigerian soldiers. | The girls - warned by Boko Haram not to return to school - were escorted back to Dapchi by Nigerian soldiers. |
As well as meeting President Muhammadu Buhari, the newly-released girls underwent medical and security screenings. | As well as meeting President Muhammadu Buhari, the newly-released girls underwent medical and security screenings. |
The schoolgirls, who were kidnapped from their boarding school on 19 February, were reportedly released by the side of a road almost five weeks later. | The schoolgirls, who were kidnapped from their boarding school on 19 February, were reportedly released by the side of a road almost five weeks later. |
A total of 110 girls were originally kidnapped, but five did not survive the ordeal and one other - a Christian who refused to convert to Islam - is still being held. | A total of 110 girls were originally kidnapped, but five did not survive the ordeal and one other - a Christian who refused to convert to Islam - is still being held. |
The Nigerian government has said it will not abandon the "lone Dapchi girl". | The Nigerian government has said it will not abandon the "lone Dapchi girl". |
"The Buhari administration will not relent in efforts to bring [her] safely back home to her parents," a statement said. | "The Buhari administration will not relent in efforts to bring [her] safely back home to her parents," a statement said. |
Two other people - a boy and another girl from Dapchi - were freed at the same time, officials also said. | |
The government denies claims that Boko Haram was paid a ransom for the girls' freedom, or that there was a prisoner swap. | The government denies claims that Boko Haram was paid a ransom for the girls' freedom, or that there was a prisoner swap. |
Information Minister Lai Mohammad told the BBC's Focus on Africa that the girls' return was part of ongoing talks about an amnesty in return for a ceasefire. | Information Minister Lai Mohammad told the BBC's Focus on Africa that the girls' return was part of ongoing talks about an amnesty in return for a ceasefire. |
Joy and jubilation | Joy and jubilation |
Chris Ewokor, BBC News, Abuja | Chris Ewokor, BBC News, Abuja |
The girls arrived in Dapchi aboard a convoy of five buses at about 13:30 GMT. Their parents were already waiting expectantly when they arrived. There was joy and jubilation as they jumped into their parents' embraces. | The girls arrived in Dapchi aboard a convoy of five buses at about 13:30 GMT. Their parents were already waiting expectantly when they arrived. There was joy and jubilation as they jumped into their parents' embraces. |
The newly-released school girls had spent three days with the Nigerian authorities after being released by Boko Haram last week. | The newly-released school girls had spent three days with the Nigerian authorities after being released by Boko Haram last week. |
But the parents of the lone Christian girl were isolated from the celebrations. Their daughter is still being held by the jihadist group for reportedly refusing to convert to Islam. | But the parents of the lone Christian girl were isolated from the celebrations. Their daughter is still being held by the jihadist group for reportedly refusing to convert to Islam. |
Meanwhile, the warning by the militants that the freed girls should never return to school hangs a shadow over their return home. | Meanwhile, the warning by the militants that the freed girls should never return to school hangs a shadow over their return home. |
President Buhari's administration had been under pressure to resolve the Dapchi abduction, which revived painful memories of the 2014 kidnapping of 276 girls from the town of Chibok. | President Buhari's administration had been under pressure to resolve the Dapchi abduction, which revived painful memories of the 2014 kidnapping of 276 girls from the town of Chibok. |
Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan was criticised for his handling of the abductions from a Chibok school, some 275km (170 miles) south-east of Dapchi. | Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan was criticised for his handling of the abductions from a Chibok school, some 275km (170 miles) south-east of Dapchi. |
More than half of the girls have been returned but 100 remain missing. | More than half of the girls have been returned but 100 remain missing. |
Timeline: How Dapchi abductions unfolded (App users click image) | Timeline: How Dapchi abductions unfolded (App users click image) |
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