Jihadist group Boko Haram has freed 21 of the more than 200 Chibok girls kidnapped more than two years ago, raising hopes for the release of the others, officials said Thursday according to the Vanguard.
Also Ryan Cummings, a director at intelligence firm - Signal Risk. has said: “whatever is being given to Boko Haram in exchange for the girls would potentially be used against the Nigerian state again.”
While the return of the 21 girls is an encouraging sign, analysts point out that Boko Haram is still a potent force in the region with rival factions competing for control Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo met with the freed girls in Abuja and expressed joy over their release.
“It’s a very exciting news for the whole country,” he said. “About an hour ago I met with the 21 who have been brought back. They are reasonably in good health considering the circumstances in which they have been held,”
Osinbajo told reporters after the meeting. The vice president’s office also released the names of the girls which showed that one of them was carrying a baby. Local sources said their release was part of a prisoner swap with the Nigerian government, but the authorities denied doing a deal with Boko Haram.
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