3rd LD Writethru: Nigeria confirms release of 21 Chibok girls

The Nigerian government on Thursday confirmed 21 of more than 200 Chibok school girls abducted two years ago in Nigeria have been freed by terror group Boko Haram.

In a statement, presidential spokesman Garba Shehu, said the freed girls are now in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

"The release of the girls, in a limited number, is the outcome of negotiations between the administration and Boko Haram, brokered by the International Red Cross and the Swiss government," the spokesman said, adding "the negotiations will continue."

The spokesman said President Muhammadu Buhari, who, on Wednesday embarked on a state visit to Germany, has been briefed on the development by the secret police chief.

Xinhua learned that a military helicopter picked up the girls early Thursday in a town in Nigeria's northeastern state of Borno.

Bukola Shonibare, a member of the Bring Back Our Girls Group agitating for the release of the abducted school girls, told Xinhua the group was aware of the development.

"We (the Bring Back Our Girls Group) are aware of this development. It is true that 21 girls have been freed. The group will issue a press release soon," Shonibare told Xinhua via telephone.

A total of 276 girls were seized by armed men who stormed their dormitories on the night of April 14, 2014, at the Girls Secondary School in Chibok town of Borno State.

Two years on, while some 57 girls were brave enough to escape then, 219 of them still missing until these 21 were freed by their abductors. Endit