World
17:16, 21-Mar-2018
Nigerian gov't confirms release of 101 abducted schoolgirls by Boko Haram
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The Nigerian government has updated the number of abducted Dapchi schoolgirls released by Boko Haram on Wednesday from 76 to 101.
Nigeria's Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed revised the number in a statement.
Earlier in the day, Mohammed said 76 girls had been freed, but noted that the release of the kidnapped students "is ongoing."
Some 110 schoolgirls were taken away by Boko Haram on February 19 in the largest such abduction in the country since the kidnap of 200 schoolgirls by the same group in April 2014.
Local media earlier reported that 105 girls were brought back aboard nine vehicles and dropped off somewhere in Dapchi town at around 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday by members of the terrorist group. The remaining five were reportedly feared dead.
The release followed negotiations between the militant group and the government, with the "help of some friends of the country," Mohammed said without giving further details.
Authorities said no ransom was paid to secure the girls' release.
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