Talks between the Nigerian government and Islamists Boko Haram reportedly secure the release of schoolgirls kidnapped in April.
16:53, UK,
Friday 17
October 2014
Nigeria's presidency has agreed a
ceasefire with Boko Haram militants which would see the return of 219
kidnapped girls, according to officials
The group kidnapped more than 200 girls at gunpoint from a school in Chibok, northeastern Nigeria, on April 14.Some of the girls managed to escape from the group in the aftermath of their kidnap or during fighting among militants, but the vast majority are still missing.
Air Marshal Alex Badeh, chief of defence staff, said: "A ceasefire agreement has been concluded between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal Jihad (Boko Haram).
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau demanded the release of extremists
The president's principal secretary Hassan Tukur told the AFP news agency that an agreement to end hostilities had been reached after talks with the Islamist group.
He said: "Boko Haram issued the ceasefire as a result of the discussions we have been having with them.
"That have agreed to release the Chibok girls."
The talks are thought to have taken place in neighbouring Chad, with the country's president Idriss Deby mediating negotiations.
Sky's Special Correspondent Alex Crawford said authorities were "cautiously optimistic" the girls would be released.
She said: "Boko Haram have assured Nigerian authorities that the Chibok schoolgirls are well and safe.
"The gives everyone an indication that there is a very clear possibility that the girls could be freed as part of this deal.
"Nigerian authorities are going out of their way to say there is no deal, that there are no conditions attached to the ceasefire."
Mr Jonathan has faced strong criticism over a deteriorating security situation in Nigeria, with areas in the northeast Borno state inaccessible due to the threat from Boko Haram.
The group has demanded the release of detained extremists in exchange for the girls.
Journalist Peter Guest, a former editor of the Financial Times This Is Africa magazine, told Sky News: "Cynically, I think this is a government ploy to make it look like they're doing something.
"There's been a surge in protest and activism about this case in the last week, and the government needs to look busy."
The development was announced on the day 107 Boko Haram militants and eight soldiers were killed in fighting in northern Cameroon, according to the country's defence ministry.
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