Two years ago, terror swiftly spread over Chibok, Nigeria when 276 schoolgirls were kidnapped by terrorist group, Boko Haram. Since then, close to 57 girls have fled the militants’ captivity, and most recently 21 more girls have been released to Nigeria’s government, CNN reports.
On Thursday morning (Oct. 13), the girls were stationed in Maiduguri after the success of a deal administered by the Swiss and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The girls are currently in the care of Nigeria’s Department of State Services.
As I depart Abuja for Germany on an Official Visit, I welcome the release of 21 of our Chibok Girls, following successful negotiations.
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) October 13, 2016
The President welcomes the release of the girls but cautioned Nigerians to be mindful of the fact that more than 30,000 fellow citizens…
— Mallam Garba Shehu (@GarShehu) October 13, 2016
…were killed via terrorism.
— Mallam Garba Shehu (@GarShehu) October 13, 2016
Authorities state that nearly 200 girls still remain under the captivity of Boko Haram, and a few were reportedly killed during an airstrike launched by the Nigerian military, the Wall Street Journal states.
#BringBackOurGirls later sparked after news of the girls’ kidnapping made its rounds on the Internet in 2014. Spearheaded by First Lady Michelle Obama, she addressed the nation on how the news affected her immediate family.
“In these girls, Barack and I see our own daughters,” she said. “We see their hopes, their dreams – and we can only imagine the anguish their parents are feeling right now.”
Since Boko Haram’s control, a starvation crisis has gained international attention, stemming from a report that states nearly 75,000 children could die from hunger.