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International
Committee of the Red Cross/ Sahara Reporters Media
|
The president’s
spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said in a statement in the early hours of Sunday
that the girls were exchanged for some Boko Haram “suspects” held by the
government.
 |
International
Committee of the Red Cross/ Sahara Reporters Media
|
He
did not provide number or names of the Boko Haram suspects swapped for the
girls.
The
girls were released on Saturday, Mr. Shehu said, adding that they are to arrive
Abuja today, Sunday, where they will be received by President Buhari.
He
said the president was kept abreast of every negotiation and operation that led
to the girls’ release.
“President
Muhammadu Buhari expresses his deep gratitude to all who played a part in
ensuring the success of this operation, as follows: Security agencies, the
military, the Government of Switzerland, the International Committee of the Red
Cross, and local and international NGOs,” Mr. Shehu said.
The
statement said Mr. Buhari was committed to ensuring the safe return of the
Chibok girls, and all other Boko Haram captives.
The
released girls are among the over 270 abducted from their dormitories in a
government secondary school in Chibok, Borno State in April 2014 as they
prepared to write their final exams.
Twenty
one of them were earlier released last October after negotiations between Boko
Haram and the Nigerian government.
Two
other girls were found separately, in addition to those who escaped on the
night of their abduction.
With
the latest release, about 80 Chibok girls are now being held by the Boko Haram.
82 Freed Chibok Girls
Arrive Abuja
The
Punch reports that the 82 Chibok girls released by the Boko Haram sect on
Saturday have arrived the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina,
disclosed this on his Twitter handle, @FemAdesina.
The
presidential spokesman said the girls were received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe
International Airport, Abuja on Sunday by the Chief of Staff to the President,
Abba Kyari, on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“82
Chibok girls now in Abuja. Received on behalf of the President at the airport
by Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abba Kyari. Congrats Nigeria,” Adesina wrote.
The
girls’ arrival in Abuja is ahead of their formal presentation to the President
later in the day.
The
Presidency had on Saturday said security agencies took back the 82 freed Chibok
girls in exchange for some Boko Haram suspects held by the authorities.
The
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu,
disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Saturday night.
Shehu
said President Muhammadu Buhari was scheduled to formally receive the freed girls
in Abuja on Sunday.
The
statement read, “The President is pleased to announce that negotiations to
release more of the Chibok Girls have borne fruit with the release of 82 more
girls today.
“After
months of patient negotiations, our security agencies have taken back these
abducted girls in exchange for some Boko Haram suspects held by the
authorities.
“The
girls are due tomorrow (Sunday) in Abuja to be received by the President.
“The
President expressed his deep gratitude to security agencies, the military, the
government of Switzerland, the Red Cross, local and international NGOs for the
success of this operation.
“It
may be recalled that when the first batch of 21 Girls were released in October
last year, the President directed the security agencies to continue in earnest
until all the Chibok Girls have been released and reunited with their families.
“The
President has been receiving full reports from the Director-General of the
State Security Services at each stage of the negotiation/operation.”
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