Nigeria confirms release of university lecturers, policewomen abducted by Boko Haram

ABUJA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Three Nigerian university lecturers and 10 policewomen abducted last year by terror group Boko Haram will soon be reunited with their families, Nigerian authorities confirmed on Sunday.

The Nigerian secret police, while confirming the release of the dons and female cops, said it had officially briefed President Muhammadu Buhari following the freedom of the abductees on Saturday.

Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari also confirmed the abductees' freedom in a separate statement, saying their release followed a series of negotiations facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

A team of doctors and psychologists has been placed on standby to attend to them, said the presidential statement.

Buhari is also likely to meet with the lecturers and policewomen before they are finally reunited with their families if there are no issues of security or medical concerns, the statement added.

The university workers were abducted in July 2017 when Boko Haram attacked an oil exploration team in Gubio and Magumeri areas of the northeastern state of Borno.

The 10 policewomen were abducted on June 20, 2017, when the Boko Haram attacked a motorcade of police convoy on Maiduguri-Damboa road in Borno. Enditem