All 279 kidnapped Nigerian girls released: governor

CGTN

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All 279 girls kidnapped from their boarding school in northern Nigeria have been released and are on government premises, AFP reported on Tuesday citing a local governor.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari expressed "overwhelming joy" after the release of the 279 students, saying that he was "pleased that their ordeal has come to a happy end without any incident."

Authorities initially said 317 girls were abducted in the raid by hundreds of gunmen on the Government Girls Secondary School in the remote Jangebe village on Friday. But the governor confirmed the "total number of female students abducted" was 279.

Girls who were kidnapped from a boarding school in the northwest Nigerian state of Zamfara, look on after their release in Zamfara, Nigeria, March 2, 2021. /Reuters

Girls who were kidnapped from a boarding school in the northwest Nigerian state of Zamfara, look on after their release in Zamfara, Nigeria, March 2, 2021. /Reuters

Girls who were kidnapped from a boarding school in the northwest Nigerian state of Zamfara, walk in line after their release in Zamfara, Nigeria, March 2, 2021. /Reuters

Girls who were kidnapped from a boarding school in the northwest Nigerian state of Zamfara, have meal after their release in Zamfara, Nigeria, March 2, 2021. /Reuters

Girls who were kidnapped from a boarding school in the northwest Nigerian state of Zamfara, look on after their release in Zamfara, Nigeria, March 2, 2021. /Reuters