POLITICS TODAY

A cross section of the Dapchi schoolgirls freed by Boko Haram today. Photo

The Nigerian Army on Wednesday formally handed over 106 released girls from Boko Haram captivity to Federal Government. But two of them were not part of the original 110 abducted on 19 February.

Maj.-Gen. Rogers Ibe Nicholas, the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, presented the released girls to the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at the 105 Air Force Composite Command, Maiduguri.

Nicholas explained that 104 of the girls were from the 110 abducted from Government Science and Technical School, Dapchi, released from the insurgents in the early hours of Wednesday.

He said the remaining six abducted schoolgirls were still unaccounted for, noting that two other girls who were not part of the abducted students were rescued from the insurgents by troops.

Commander Operation Lafiya Dole, General Rogers Nicholas carries one of the freed girls

More of the freed Dapchi Schoolgirls
The theatre commander added that the rescued girls were brought from Dapchi to Maiduguri together with their parents and guardians.

The minister of information said Federal Government adopted proactive measures to secure release of the remaining girls and persons under insurgents’ captivity.

Mohammed noted that government was working to end hostilities and enhance peace restoration in the northeast.

The girls’ handover was attended by Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau; Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Khadija Bukar-Abba and Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.

The released girls, alongside their parents and some aid workers boarded a Nigerian Air Force aircraft en route Abuja at about 18.50 p.m.

(NAN)