Nigeria's military has retracted its statement that some of the schoolgirls abducted from Chibok town in April by Islamist militants had been freed.
Army spokesman Major General Chris Olukolade told the BBC there were girls in military custody, but not those from Chibok as originally thought.
In recent days there have been unconfirmed reports that the Nigerian government has been negotiating a deal with Boko Haram to exchange the abducted girls for imprisoned Islamist fighters.
Since a state of emergency was declared in May 2013 in the north-east to end Boko Haram's insurgency, the group's attacks have increased.
Many women and children - including teenage girls - have been taken hostage since then.
Earlier, Gen Olukolade told the BBC there was an ongoing exercise to release the schoolgirls taken from Chibok and that some of them were safe in a military barracks.
But he later called back to retract his statement, saying the authorities were trying to confirm the identities of the girls who are in the custody of the army, but they did not come from Chibok.
As I have mentioned many times, one simply cannot believe anything the Nigerian military says. But while the Chibok girls are still unaccounted for, at least some captive girls have been recovered. Many more women and girls have been abducted by Boko Haram in the past year or so than just the Chibok girls. So we celebrate the release of those girls who are on their way home, we must continue to pray for the Chibok girls, most of whom are Christians.
I have to wonder what the Nigerian government gave up for those girls? Did they release all the prisoners Boko Haram had asked for? Was it a one-for-one deal? Has the government given up all of it's bargaining chips (ie prisoners)? Has Boko Haram tricked the military making any future negotiations highly unlikely?
Army spokesman Major General Chris Olukolade told the BBC there were girls in military custody, but not those from Chibok as originally thought.
In recent days there have been unconfirmed reports that the Nigerian government has been negotiating a deal with Boko Haram to exchange the abducted girls for imprisoned Islamist fighters.
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| Screen-grab from Boko Haram video of some abducted Chibok girls |
Many women and children - including teenage girls - have been taken hostage since then.
 |
| Brigadier-General Chris Olukolade |
Earlier, Gen Olukolade told the BBC there was an ongoing exercise to release the schoolgirls taken from Chibok and that some of them were safe in a military barracks.
But he later called back to retract his statement, saying the authorities were trying to confirm the identities of the girls who are in the custody of the army, but they did not come from Chibok.
As I have mentioned many times, one simply cannot believe anything the Nigerian military says. But while the Chibok girls are still unaccounted for, at least some captive girls have been recovered. Many more women and girls have been abducted by Boko Haram in the past year or so than just the Chibok girls. So we celebrate the release of those girls who are on their way home, we must continue to pray for the Chibok girls, most of whom are Christians.
I have to wonder what the Nigerian government gave up for those girls? Did they release all the prisoners Boko Haram had asked for? Was it a one-for-one deal? Has the government given up all of it's bargaining chips (ie prisoners)? Has Boko Haram tricked the military making any future negotiations highly unlikely?
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