112 of the 276 Chibok schoolgirls who were abducted in 2014 are still missing. Credit/BBC
97 of Chibok Schoolgirls already dead, says Nigerian journalist
A Nigerian journalist with links to the Islamist group Boko Haram has claimed only 15 out of the 112 missing Chibok girls are still alive.
The 276 schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram exactly four years ago, on 14 April 2014.
Meanwhile, Federal Government’s spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu has re-iterated its determination to rescue the girls alive.
Ahmad Salkida said he had negotiated for the release of the girls on the behalf of the government.
Several opportunities to have them released were missed, Mr Salikda said.
A spokesperson for the government told the BBC that it was still in discussions with Boko Haram to secure the release of the 112 girls.
He said that there was no reason to believe some of the girls may be dead.
Although dog by controversy, the 110 schoolgirls who were kidnapped from Dapchi, in Yobe state, same North-East Nigeria have been released, with exception of a Christian girl, Leah Sharibu, barely one month after.
Reports say the Dapchi kidnap was stage-managed by the ruling party, the Al Progressive Congress (APC) to hoodwink people into believing that the government is capable of rescuing the girls. what the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government could not do with the Chibok girls.
The BBC reported Mr Salkida said the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan had asked him to negotiate for the release of the Chibok schoolgirls two weeks after they were abducted.
He said he had arranged for a prisoner swap on five occasions, but delays from the then government led to a breakdown in negotiations.
Mr Salkida would not reveal the names of the remaining girls, stating that this was the responsibility of the Nigerian government.