Dapchi update: Total of 106 persons released by Boko Haram

The presidency has confirmed that Boko Haram released a total of 106 people yesterday at Dapchi, Yobe State.

104 of the kidnapped Dapchi girls were returned. One other girl and a boy were also released.

An official tweet by the presidency stated:

“UPDATE 2: 104 DAPCHI GIRLS, 2 OTHERS FREED UNCONDITIONALLY A total of 106 abducted persons, comprising 104 Daphi schoolgirls, one other girl and a boy were freed by insurgents in the early hours of today, Wednesday March 21, 2018.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of information and communication, Lai Mohamed, who is representing the Federal government has said all the 106 persons were freed unconditionally, contrary to reports in a section of the media that ransom was paid and that some insurgents were swapped for the freed persons.

The presidency also announced that the released hostages have been handed over to the Federal Government.

See Tweets below:

Briefing journalists in Maiduguri, the Minister of @FMICNigeria, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said all the 106 persons were freed unconditionally, contrary to reports in a section of the media that
ransom was paid and that some insurgents were swapped for the freed
persons.
(2)

— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) March 21, 2018

Minister of @FMICNigeria: “It is not true that we paid ransom for the release of the Dapchi girls, neither was there a prisoner swap to secure their release.” #DapchiBriefing

(3)

— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) March 21, 2018

Minister of @FMICNigeria: “What happened was that the abduction itself was a breach of the ceasefire talks between the insurgents & the Govt, hence it became a moral burden on the abductors. Any report that we paid ransom or engaged in prisoner swap is false.”#DapchiBriefing
(4)

— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) March 21, 2018

Meanwhile, the freed persons have been formally handed over to the
Fed Govt.
Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas, handed over the girls and one boy to the four-member @AsoRock Delegation at the @NigAirForce base in Maiduguri Wednesday evening.
(5)

— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) March 21, 2018