the abducted schoolgirls: still with Boko Haram

The 219 Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped since 14 April are still with their Boko Haram abductors, Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said today, thrashing a rumour about their freedom.

The rumour began circulating today after several buses drove into Maiduguri barracks, loaded with people.

But DHQ said the buses were not carrying the girls.

“The story circulating in respect of the release of the Chibok girls is not true,”it said.

The clarification is contained in a statement posted on the DHQ website on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the buses that drove into the barracks in Maiduguri purportedly carrying the girls were conveying other individuals.

The DHQ would soon address newsmen on some of the recent developments in the counter-insurgency campaign.

Many terrorists were said to have died in the campaign, while many were captured by troops and some others willingly surrendered themselves.