82 CHIBOK GIRLS WERE SWAPPED WITH BOKO HARAM PRISONERS - BUHARI CONFIRMS

The Presidency has confirmed 82 more of the Chibok secondary school girls released on Saturday.

Recall that 21 of them were earlier released last October after negotiations between Boko Haram and the Nigerian government.

Spokesperson to the President, Shehu Garba revealed in a statement issued in the early hours of Sunday that the girls were taken back in exchange for some Boko Haram “suspects” that were held by the government.
Shehu said they are to arrive Abuja today, Sunday, where they will be received by President Buhari.

He said,

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.

He added that Buhari was committed to ensuring the safe return of the Chibok girls, and all other Boko Haram captives.

The girls are among the over 270 secondary school girls abducted in Chibok, Borno State in April 2014 as they prepared to write their final exams.