Girl who escaped 3-year Boko Haram captivity not a Chibok girl - Gov't

The Nigerian government has clarified the status of an abducted girl who escaped from Boko Haram captivity on Wednesday.

The 15-year-old Mariam Mohammed Isa attended the Chibok school where the infamous 2014 abduction took place but was not part of the 276. She was abducted in a separate incident by the insurgents.

A presidential spokesman who confirmed news of her escape gave the current update on her status. She was thought to be one of the abducted Chibok girls, a news that excited the Bring Back Our Girls group.

Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, on disclosed the news of the girl during the weekly cabinet meeting. His media aide subsequently tweeted details of the girl.

Mariam Mohammed-Isa, 15, female, a JSS 1 student from Chibok community escaped yesterday from 3 yrs Boko Haram bondage as earlier announced.

— Laolu Akande (@akandeoj) May 17, 2017

The government has hinted that more girls could be released by the Boko Haram insurgents as talks were still ongoing barely a month after 82 of the girls were released after negotiation with their abductors.

In October last year, some 21 girls were also released under a similar arrangement. The release was made possible by the assistance of the International Red Cross as ‘neutral intermediaries’ and the Swiss government.

The earlier release was without any known conditions but the more recent one was in exchange for five Boko Haram commanders. A decision the opposition slammed but which the government said it stood by.

The government continues its counter-insurgency on militants in the country’s northeast alongside talks for the release of all captives they are currently holding. The activities of the group threaten the entire Lake Chad region that spans parts of Cameroon, Niger and Chad.