Eighty-two (82) out of more than two hundred (200) schoolgirls
kidnapped by Boko Haram militants over three years ago in the Nigerian village
of Chibok have been released as part of an exchange for detained suspects from
the militant group, a statement from Nigeria’s president said early Sunday.
The release of the girls is by far the biggest breakthrough in a
tragedy that has come to define the nearly eight-year war against Boko Haram,
the Islamist militant group that has burned, killed and kidnapped its way
across parts of West Africa, killing thousands and causing millions to flee for
their lives.
The government, after lengthy negotiations, handed over “some
Boko Haram suspects held by authorities” in exchange for 82 of the girls,
according to a statement from a spokesman for President Muhammadu Buhari. The
statement credited the government of Switzerland, the International Committee
of the Red Cross, local and international nongovernmental organizations, the
military and security agencies with facilitating the exchange.
“The president has repeatedly expressed his total commitment
towards ensuring the safe return of the Chibok girls, and all other Boko Haram
captives,” the statement said, referring to one of the social media campaigns
on behalf of the girls.
#BringBackTheOthers
ReplyDelete