Presidency Speaks On Release Of Chibok Girls

Following reports that the Federal Government had fixed a date in conjunction with Boko Haram for the release of the abducted Chibok girls, the presidency has said they never chose any date.

There had been widespread report that the missing Chibok girls might be released from Boko Haram captivity on Monday, October 20, 2014.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe who described the reports as “mischievous rumours” aimed at discrediting the government, said nobody ever said the girls would be released on Monday, Punch reports.

He stated that the Federal Government chose neither October 20 nor any other date with the Islamist sect, in the widely publicised ceasefire agreement.


Though he maintained silence over the fate of the Chibok girls, he was optimistic that the ceasefire agreement which has been violated in the past days since its announcement would sail through.
According to him, the setbacks being experienced in the ceasefire deal was not unusual but it would not derail the agreement reached by both parties involved.

“In 80 per cent of ceasefire agreements in world history, fringe breaches do occur. Insurgents operate from different cells and sometimes due to communication problems breaches do occur. These reports will not derail this current agreement,” Okupe added.


The abduction of over 200 girls from their school in Chibok community, Borno state since April 14, 2014, is still a thing of concern both locally and internationally as they are yet to be released from captivity.

However, some became hopeful when on Friday, October 17, the Federal Government announced it had reached a ceasefire agreement with Boko Haram which included the release of girls and others in their captivity.

The parents of the girls have refused to give up hope as they are still optimistic their girls will return home soon.