The Federal Government has confirmed that it was only 76 girls that were released out of the 110 schoolgirls that were abducted by Boko Haram terrorists group in Dapchi, Yobe State on February 19.
This was made known on Wednesday by the Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, who said the release was “unconditional” and the result of “back-channel efforts” with the help of “some friends of the country”, without elaborating.
He said,
“The 76 are those who have been documented so far.”
AFP reports that Mohammed said the girls were released at about 3:00 am (0200 GMT) and that a full head-count was under way.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari last week hinted that government had “chosen negotiation” to secure the return of the Dapchi girls rather than use military force.
Mohammed said,
“For the release to work, the government had a clear understanding that violence and confrontation would not be the way out as it could endanger the lives of the girls, hence a non-violent approach was the preferred option.
“Within the period when the girls were being brought back, (an) operational pause was observed in certain areas to ensure free passage and also that lives were not lost.”
