The Nigerian Government has succeeded in releasing 21 girls out of the 276 schoolgirls that were abducted by Boko Haram about 2 years ago.
After releasing the names of the girls, the Nigerian government said it did not swap the 21 released Chibok schoolgirls for Boko Haram prisoners as previously thought by many.
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21 of the 276 abducted Chibok girls released
This was made known by Lai Mohammed, the country’s minister of information and culture during a news conference in Abuja.
The minister emphasized that the release of the schoolgirls was not secured by a prisoner-swap deal with Boko Haram, but that the release of the girls was secured through “confidence building” with Boko Haram. In his own words:
“Please note that this is not a swap, but a release,”
“The release of these girls does not mean an end to military operations, but it is a new phase in the war against insurgency.
Mohammed added that President Muhammadu Buhari was ready to do all he could to bring the insurgency to an end.
“Mr President has made it clear that whatever he can do to bring the insurgency under control he will do it,” he said.
When asked what the government gave in return for the girls, Mohammed insisted that nothing was given in exchange for them.
“People want to believe bad news than good news. The girls were released, there was no swap,” he said.
The terror sect, Boko Haram, once asked for a ransom of $50million from the Federal Government of Nigeria for the release of the 276 school girls, but this deal did not take place.
The names of the 21 Chibok girls who were released as listed below.
Mary Usman Bulama
Jumai John
Blessing Abana
Luggwa Sanda
Comfort Habila
Maryam Basheer
Comfort Amos
Glory Mainta
Saratu Emmanuel
Deborah Ja’afaru
Rahab Ibrahim
Helin Musa
Maryamu Lawan
Rebecca Ibrahim
Asabe Goni
Deborah Andrawus
Agnes Gapani
Saratu Markus
Glory Dama
Pindah Nuhu
Rebecca Mallam