76 Dapchi Girls confirmed freed - Lai Mohammed

The Federal Government has confirmed that Boko Haram returned 76 out of the 110 schoolgirls kidnapped by the terrorists one month ago.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who said the 76 are those who have been documented so far, adding that the release of the abducted students is ongoing.

He revealed that the girls were released around 3 am through back-channel efforts and with the help of some friends of the country, and that it was unconditional.

He said, "For the release to work, the government had a clear understanding that violence and confrontation would not be the way out as it could endanger the lives of the girls, hence a non-violent approach was the preferred option.

''Within the period when the girls were being brought back, operational pause was observed in certain areas to ensure free passage and also that lives were not lost."

He said the number of the freed girls would be updated after the remaining ones have been documented, especially because the girls were not handed over to anyone but dropped off in Dapchi.

The Federal Government had earlier confirmed that the girls were returned to Dapchi by Boko Haram militants on Wednesday, March 21.

Dapchi abduction

Boko Haram militants invaded Government Girls Science and Technical Secondary School in Dapchi, Bursari local government area of Yobe on Monday, February 19, 2018, and abducted 110 schoolgirls.

According to accounts by residents, the terrorists invaded the town around 7 pm in over 18 gun trucks mounted with high caliber weapons.

The abduction was a repeat of another Boko Haram attack that happened when militants invaded Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok and kidnapped 276 female students in April 2014.

After several escapes and releases, 112 of the girls remain in captivity of the deadly terrorist group.