Boko Haram Frees 83 Kidnapped Nigerian Girls Three Years After Mass Abduction

After three years of being in captivity, 83 kidnapped girls were released on Saturday by Boko Haram terrorists in northern Nigeria.

via NYDN:

The freed girls were found near the town of Banki near the Cameroon border, raising hopes for reunions among the families of the captives. They were waiting for a list of names.

With the release, some 112 girls remain under Boko Haram control from the 276 schoolgirls seized by the group back in April 2014 — the mass abduction that sent shock waves around the globe.

“Our hopes and expectations are high as we look forward to this news being true and confirmed,” said Sesugh Akume of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign.

The release comes seven months after 21 of the captives were turned loose following negotiations with Boko Haram.

The Nigerian government denied paying a ransom in the October release, and insisted no imprisoned Boko Haram fighters were turned loose.

Most of the girls kidnapped by the Islamic extremists were Christian, and their captors reportedly forced the girls to marry their members and bear their children.

Human rights advocates also believe the some of the young women were used to carry out suicide bombing attacks for the terrorists.

Let’s bring the rest of these girls home!