21 of the over 200 girls captured by the militant terrorist group Boko Haram in Chibok a coupe of years ago have been freed, the Nigerian government has announced.
The release of the girls follows intense negotiations between the Nigerian government and the terrorist organisation.
A statement from the Presidency announced that a deal has been struck for the release of the girls, with some captured Boko Haram soldiers going the other way.
“It is confirmed that 21 of the missing Chibok girls have been released and are in the custody of the department of state services,” presidential spokesman Garba Shehu said in a statement.
“The release of the girls … is an outcome of negotiations between the administration and the Boko Haram brokered by the International Red Cross and the Swiss government,” Shehu added.
“The negotiations will continue.”
Over 200 girls were captured by the group a few years ago, sparking international hue and cry and the hashtag #bringbackourgirls. Very little has been heard of them since despite a massive effort by the Nigerian military to retrieve them.