Boko Haram suspects exchanged for Chibok girls

The 82 Chibok girls released by Boko Haram insurgents on Saturday was made possible after the Federal Government also released some key members of the terrorists.

National Daily gathered that about three Chadian nationals, allegedly senior commanders under Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, were handed over.
It was further gathered that after the military authorities took the girls into custody in the town of Banki, on the border with Cameroon, they were on Sunday morning airlifted to Maiduguri, Borno state capital on board six military helicopters at 6:10 am.

A source said one of the girls was seen carrying a baby whose age could not immediately be ascertained.

ALSO SEE: 82 Chibok girls freed by Boko Haram

The presidency had announced late on Saturday night the release of 82 more girls after about six months of intensive talks with the jihadists.

National Daily recalls that about six months ago, 21 of their classmates were freed with the help of international mediators.

The girls were kidnapped by the terrorists at their school dormitory in Chibok on the 14 April, 2014.

It was learnt that the girls are being taking to Abuja to see President Mohammadu Buhari before they would be evacuated for intensive medical examination.

“Today 82 more Chibok girls were released after lengthy negotiations. Our security agencies have taken back these girls, in exchange for some Boko Haram suspects held by the authorities,” a presidential statement said.

Boko Haram, since 2009 when they started their insipid campaign have killed over 20,000 people in Nigeria.