A lot of parents in Nigeria are counting their blessings this morning because twenty-one of the Nigerian schoolgirls who were were kidnapped by Boko Haram, Islamic extremist group, were reunited with their families yesterday! These girls were held against their will for two-and-a-half years. Unfortunately 197 girls are still being held hostage.
According to Jezebel, the government was finally able to negotiate with the extremist group in order to successfully bring the twenty-one girls home safely. They were released on Thursday and then were flown to Nigeria’s capital, Abuja. The government helped reunite the girls with their families and it was a very emotional scene, according to witnesses.
“I never expected that I would see my daughter again, and I pray that those girls still left behind, that God will bring them out safely the way our own daughter came out alive,” said one mother who spoke with the Associated Press.
Many are wondering what the government negotiated in order to secure the release of the girls. Two military officers said that four Boko Haram fighters were released by the Nigerian Government in exchange for the girls, while a Nigerian negotiator claims that the Swiss government paid a lot of money on for the Nigerian Government for the release!
We will keep you updated on this story!
Source: https://www.google.com/amp/jezebel.com/nigerian-schoolgirls-reunite-with-families-after-releas-1787865875/amp
