Boko Haram release of 21 Chibok girls ought to be a joyous affair for the girls, the Nigerian government and the parents and relations of the girls.
But joy was subdued at the reception ceremony for the girls at the Abuja Clinic where the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, some ministers and the Director-general of Department of State Services received them.
Emotions could not be curbed as the girls who have been away in captivity for 30 months burst out in tears. Some of the ministers also shed tears.
Sunday Aghaeze captured the ceremony in unforgettable images:
VP Osinbajo with a Chibok girl and her baby
Osinbajo and his wife console the girlsVP Osinbajo, in black cap, with the Chibok girlsSome of the Chibok girls received today: all grim-facedVP Osinbajo and Aisha Alhassan, minister for women affairs: Aisha breaks out in tears with with the girlsAlhaji Lai Mohammed, minister of information and Culture in sombre moodAisha Alhassan with the girlsMinister of state for Budget and National Planning,left, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed was also thereAisha Alhassan cheers up the girlsR-L; Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Director General, SSS, Mr Lawal Musa Daura and Minister of State Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed during the handling over of 21 Chibok Girls to the Vice President at SSS Clinic in Abuja.Chibok Girl with her son Little Bukar Amos and othersCross section of the 21 Chibok Girls. They were not like this when Boko Haram stole them awayL-R; The Chairman of the Chibok Community in Abuja, Hosea Tsambido, and some of the 21 Chibok Girls