Twenty one of the more than 200 Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Islamist Boko Haram insurgents in April 2014 has been released to the Nigerian government, according to reports on SaharaReporters.
Citing government sources, they say the girls were picked up by military helicopter from Banki area of Borno state where Boko Haram militants dropped them off earlier today.
FLASH: 21 Freed Chibok Girls are being taken by a military chopper to a medical facility for evaluation #bringbackoursgirls #BBOG @obyezeks
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) October 13, 2016
FLASH: The release of 21 Chibok girls was brokered by International Red Cross and the Swiss government, according to @NGRPresident @Mbuhari
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) October 13, 2016
FLASH: A Boko Haram commander said the release of the first batch of Chibok girls involved a prisoner swap of detained Boko Haram militants
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) October 13, 2016
FLASH: #bringbackourgirls 18 of the 21 freed Chibok girls are nursing mothers
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) October 13, 2016
FLASH: 21 freed Chibok girls swapped with four four high profile Boko Haram militants
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) October 13, 2016
FLASH: 21 freed Chibok girls names to be released soon by @NGRPresident via the DG of Dept. of State Security, Lawal Daura
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) October 13, 2016
FLASH: 21 Chibok girls are now on their way to Abuja by air, they left Nigeria Airforce base in Maiduguri for Abuja at 9:15 am Nigeria time
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) October 13, 2016
The release of the 21 girls comes as President Buhari began a three-day trip to Germany to discuss assistance for the rebuilding of the northeastern part of Nigeria ravaged by Boko Haram.
