The 21 were part of a group of nearly 300 girls taken by Boko Haram in April 2014 from the town of Chibok in northern Nigeria.
The release was negotiated between the Nigerian government and Boko Haram. The deal was facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Swiss government.
The 21 girls were taken to the capital, where they met Thursday with Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. He called the release “very exciting news” for the whole country.
Names of all the girls were to be released as soon as their families were contacted. Health information about the girls was not made public. However, at least one of the girls is reportedly pregnant.
The country’s Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the girls were freed after "painstaking negotiations and trust on both sides.”
Nigerian officials said they planned to hold more talks with Boko Haram about the release of more captured girls.
Dozens of the kidnapped girls have been able to escape. The 21 released this week were the first to be rescued as a result of government action.
Boko Haram has led attacks on schools as part of its insurgency. The extremist group has been fighting for seven years to establish an Islamic government in northern Nigeria.
Boko Haram is blamed for the deaths of at least 20,000 people since 2009. More than 2.7 million people have also been displaced in the fighting.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has repeatedly promised to rescue the kidnapped girls and crush Boko Haram.
Last week, Nigeria’s military carried out a number of airstrikes against the group. The offensive took place in the Sambisa forest, a stronghold of Boko Haram, which last year pledged its loyalty to Islamic State.
Words in This Story
facilitate – v. to make something possible or easier
painstaking – v. done with a lot of thought and care
insurgency – n. armed revolt or uprising attempting to take control of government
pledge – v. to formally promise to give or do