Following intense pressure by the Bring Back Our Girls campaigners and other civil society organizations, the Federal Government has given a detailed explanation of the efforts made to secure the release of Chibok girls, who were kidnapped by the Boko Haram in April 2014.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said at a press conference in Abuja on Friday that President Muhammadu Buhari, on assumption of office, directed security agencies to locate and ensure safe rescue of the girls.

Mohammed said that the Department of State Services, DSS, on July 17, 2015 began negotiations with the insurgents, who demanded that their fighters in detention be released.

He noted that the negotiation stalled due to the division in the Boko Haram group.

He however assured Nigerians that the government is committed to the release of the girls.

“Officers and men have sacrificed their time and energy, and some have already paid the supreme price since the abduction of the Chibok girls, fighting for the safe release of the girls,” the minister stated.

“Many friendly countries and organisations have equally been very forthcoming in providing their human and technological resources to assist in the process. They are still doing so. We cannot, as a nation, ignore these sacrifices.

“The government and its security agencies remain committed to ensuring that the Chibok girls are safely released in fulfillment of the presidential mandate.

“Let me emphasize that government appreciates the resilience of Nigerians in the fight against insurgency and terrorism, and will continue to call on fellow Nigerians to hold that much is ahead and therefore support Mr. President’s resolve on this matter,” he concluded.