Boko Haram and Nigeria Reach Ceasefire Agreement, Promise Return of Kidnapped Girls
The Nigerian government and Islamist terror group Boko Haram have reached a ceasefire agreement, part of which deal includes the release of over 200 kidnapped schoolgirls. A Nigerian presidential spokesman said Friday that negotiations for more than a month were finalized Thursday night.
"We have agreed on the release of the Chibok schoolgirls, and we expect to conclude on that at our next meeting with the group's representative next week in Chad," said Hassan Tukur, principal secretary to Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.
Agence France-Presse first reported the news of the agreement. According to Tukur, Boko Haram representatives and Nigerian officials met in Chad twice to discuss the girls' release. The meetings were mediated by Chad's President Idriss Deby.
"The group has shown willingness to abide by the agreement, which it demonstrated with the release of the Chinese and Cameroonian hostages a few days ago," Tukur said.
In April Boko Haram abducted an estimated 276 girls from their boarding school in Chibok, and although dozens escaped the kidnapping, more than 200 girls are still missing from the northeastern Nigerian town.
Nigerian government officials and the International Committee of the Red Cross discussed a potential prisoner swap for the Chibok schoolgirls last month, according to a source from CNN. However, it is unclear whether this deal includes such a trade of prisoners of not.
The group's name, "Boko Haram," translates to "Western education in sin" in the Hausa language in that area. The terrorist militant group advocates for strict Sharia laws in Nigeria, the highest-populated country in Africa.
Boko Haram was formed 12 years ago, founded by Mohammed Yusuf, who wanted a pure Islamic state in Nigeria. He was killed by police in 2009, and video of the incident has since surfaced online.
Since its formation, attacks from Boko Haram have been bombings of mosques, churches and schools, kidnappings of women and children and religious and political assassinations.
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