The federal Government has released the names of the 21 Chibok school girls who were freed from Boko Haram captivity on Thursday.

The names were posted on the social media handle of the Office of Digital Engagement in the Presidency.

They include: Mary Usman Bulama; Jumai John; Blessing Abana; Luggwa Sanda; Comfort Habila; Maryam Basheer and Comfort Amos.

Others are: Glory Mainta; Saratu Emmanuel; Deborah Ja’afaru; Rahab Ibrahim; Helen Musa; Maryamu Lawan; Rebecca Ibrahim and Asabe Goni.

The rest are: Deborah Andrawus; Agnes Gapani; Saratu Markus; Glory Dama; Pindah Nuhu and Rebecca Mallam.

Meanwhile reports say the second round of negotiation for the release of more of the girls will open on Monday.

The Swiss Government, the Red Cross and a local humanitarian NGO based in Maiduguri, Borno State were said to have been involved in the release of the girls.

However, the Swiss Government and the Red Cross immediately issued a disclaimer saying they were not part of the deal.

DAILY TRUST newspaper reports that representatives of the Department of State Service, DSS, and the Maiduguri-based NGO handled the final stages of deal.

The report said that the reason the Swiss Government and Red Cross distanced themselves from the deal was so that they would not be perceived as publicly going against the international convention which prohibits negotiating with terrorist organizations.

The Defence Headquarters also denied knowledge of the deal, apparently for the same reasons.

Meanwhile the Bring Back Our Girls, BBOG, campaign group has expressed its delight at the release of the 21 girls.

In  a statement signed by Aisha Yesufu and former education minister, Oby Ezekwesili, the group said: “we take this opportunity to salute the work of our security services at the front lines – the commitment, resilience and tireless efforts of our members of the Multi-national Joint Task Force and the civilian JTF.

“Following this development, we trust that our government will continue to work to keep the safety, security, and well-being of the other girls a high priority.”

Also, Amnesty International, through its Regional Advocacy Director, Netsanet Belay, while commending the Nigerian government for the release of some of the girls, urged it to protect their privacy.

Belay stressed the necessity that the girls “receive adequate physical and psychosocial counseling and support so that they can fully reintegrate in their communities.”