Two years ago, Boko Haram abducted about 240 girls from their boarding school in Borno State during the middle of the night. Several of them managed to escape on the night but about 209 of them are still being held by the sect and negotiations have been ongoing with the government to secure their release.
Talks to secure the release of the girls have stalled, however, as Boko Haram's demands have been unacceptable to the government. Among other things, the sect is demanding large sums of cash, an amnesty for its leaders and the release of all its fighters currently in government custody.
However, behind-the-scene talks are believed to be ongoing and under the terms of a deal that has apparently been struck, 21 of the girls have been set free. They were handed over to the federal government after they were picked up by a military helicopter in the Banki area of Borno State, where they were dropped off earlier in the day.
For now, it is not clear under what conditions the girls were released, neither were their identities revealed. It is not yet clear when Boko Haram plans to release the next batch of girls or what the government has promised in return.
However, campaigners will be celebrating the freedom of the 21 girls which came a day after the global celebration of the Day of the Girl Child. Since the Chibok girls were abducted in April 2014, a concerted international campaign has been mounted to secure their release.
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