The Minister of Information has confirmed that the number of missing schoolgirls released by Boko Haram has now reached 101.
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed.
The number of the Dapchi schoolgirls who were released on Wednesday has increased from 76 to 101, with the documentation of more of the freed girls by the security agencies, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister said the number could still increase, as the documentation of the freed girls is ongoing.
He said the release of the schoolgirls is the outcome of the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to all security agencies to do everything possible to secure the release of the 110 Dapchi schoolgirls, who were abducted 19 Feb. 2018.
The Minister said the girls were released around 3 a.m. through back-channel efforts and with the help of some friends of the country, and that it was unconditional.
''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.
Meanwhile, a Federal Government Delegation comprising Ministers of Information and Culture; Interior as well as Minister of State for
Foreign Affairs are on their way to Maiduguri to meet with the freed girls.
Segun Adeyemi
SA To Hon Minister of Information and Culture
Abuja
21 March 2018