Boko Haram ‘agrees truce and release of 219 kidnapped Nigerian girls’

Nigeria’s presidency says it has agreed a ceasefire with militants Boko Haram which would see the return of 219 kidnapped girls. The president’s principal secretary Hassan Tukur told AFP an agreement to end hostilities had been reached after talks with the Islamist group. The talks are thought to have taken place in neighbouring Chad, with the country’s president Idriss Deby mediating negotiations. Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 girls at gunpoint from a school in Chibok, northeastern Nigeria, on April 14.

A ceasefire agreement has been concluded between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal Jihad (Boko Haram).

Air Marshal Alex Badeh, Nigeria’s chief of defence staff

Some of the girls managed to escape from the group in the aftermath of their kidnap or during fighting among militants, but 219 remain missing. Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has faced strong criticism over a deteriorating security situation in Nigeria, with areas in the northeast Borno state inaccessible due to the threat from Boko Haram. The group has demanded the release of detained extremists in exchange for the girls.

Boko Haram issued the ceasefire as a result of the discussions we have been having with them. That have agreed to release the Chibok girls.

Alex Badeh

Africa Boko Haram