The girls were released on Thursday, October 13, and were picked up in the Banki area of Borno state.

The organization made the comments via a statement released on Monday, October 17.

The statement reads in part:

“ECOWAS Commission felicitates with the federal government and people of Nigeria, especially with the affected families and commends the efforts of the Nigerian military, the Multi-National Joint Taskforce (MNJTF),as well as the international partners, in the fight against insurgency   in the north east Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin region.”

The 21 girls were among over 200 abducted by Boko Haram on April 14, 2014.

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Meanwhile, the government has said that negotiations are ongoing for the release of 83 more girls.