The federal government has confirmed the releaset of 82 Chibok girls from Boko Haram captivity on Saturday evening as earlier reported by www.icirnigeria.org

This was contained in a statement issued early on Sunday by the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Garba Shehu.

Shehu in the statement said part of the terms of the negotiation was that some Boko Haram suspects that were in government custody were released in exchange with the girls.

It was not immediately clear how many of the Boko Haram fighters were released or who they were as the statement did not provide more details.

Shehu said President Buhari was kept abreast of every development during the negotiation, adding that the girls will arrive later on Sunday, where they will be received by the President.

“President Muhammadu Buhari expresses his deep gratitude to all who played a part in ensuring the success of this operation, as follows: Security agencies, the military, the Government of Switzerland, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and local and international NGOs,” the statement read in part.

Shehu added that the Buhari-led federal government is committed to ensuring the rescue of not only the Chibok girls, but all other persons kidnapped by the Boko Haram.

This recent development comes more than three years after the girls were abducted on April 14, 2014.

Twenty one of them were earlier released last October after negotiations while two other of the girls were found separately, in addition to those who escaped on the night of their abduction.

An estimated 80 more of the Chibok girls remain in Boko Haram captivity.