The Federal Government on Sunday said that some Boko Haram fighters in custody were used as negotiating chips for the release of the 82 Chibok girls who has been in the custody of the insurgents since their abduction in 2014.
In a statement on Sunday, the senior special adviser on media and publicity to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu said the release of the girls was a product of long and intense negotiations between the insurgents, International agencies, the Swiss government, Red Cross and the Federal Government.
The statement read, “President Muhammadu Buhari is pleased to announce that negotiations to release more of the #ChibokGirls have yielded results. Today, 82 more #ChibokGirls were released.”
“After lengthy negotiations, our security agencies have taken back these girls, in exchange for some Boko Haram suspects held by the authorities.
“The released #ChibokGirls are due to arrive in Abuja tomorrow Sunday, May 7, and will be received by the President.
“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.
“The President has repeatedly expressed his total commitment towards ensuring the safe return of the #ChibokGirls, and all other Boko Haram captives.
“The President has received detailed briefings from the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) at every stage of the negotiations/operation.”
