Twenty-one of the Chibok schoolgirls reportedly kidnapped by Boko Haram more than two years ago were freed Thursday in a swap for detained leaders of the Islamic extremist group — the first release since nearly 300 girls were taken captive in a case that provoked international outrage.
The freed girls, most of them carrying babies, were released before dawn and placed in the custody of the State Security Services (SSS), Nigeria’s secret police.
The government ‘‘wants the girls to have some rest,’’ said presidential spokesman Garba Shehu, adding that ‘‘all of them are very tired.’’
Some 197 girls remain missing, though some reportedly have died.
‘‘We are extremely delighted and grateful,’’ said the Bring Back Our Girls movement, which campaigned in Nigeria and internationally for the release of the girls, who were seized in April 2014 from their school in the northeastern town of Chibok.
Presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, released the names of the 21 girls late Thursday after the girls met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Here are the names made available by the government:
1. Mary Usman Bulama
2. Jummai John
3. Blessing Abana
4. Lugwa Sanda
5. Comfort Habila
6. Maryam Basheer
7. Comfort Amos
8. Glory Mainta
9. Saratu Emannuel
10. Deborah Ja’afaru
11. Rahab Ibrahim
12. Helen Musa
13. Maryamu Lawan
14. Rebecca Ibrahim
15. Asabe Goni
16. Deborah Andrawus
17. Agnes Gapani
18. Saratu Markus
19. Glory Dama
20. Pindah Nuhu
21. Rebecca Mallam
__________
Follow us on Twitter at @thesignalng
Copyright 2015 SIGNAL. Permission to use portions of this article is granted provided appropriate credits are given to www.signalng.com and other relevant sources.
