Suspected members of Islamist militant group, Boko Haram have confessed to involvement in the 2014 abduction of some 270 girls from the town of Chibok, the Nigeria Police Force said on Wednesday.
The suspects being paraded
Eight persons suspected to have taken part in the kidnap of the 276 Chibok schoolgirls in Borno state have been paraded by the Nigerian Police in Maiduguri, the state capital.
The 8 suspected Boko Haram terrorists who are among 22 persons paraded, were said to have been arrested by operatives of the Inspector General’s Intelligence Response Team (IGP’s IRT) in Borno, Adamawa and other adjoining communities.
Abba Kyari, deputy commissioner of police, confirmed that 22 suspected members of the militant group were arrested in different locations in the neighboring northeastern states of Yobe and Borno.
“Eight of them, including a commander, have confessed to be involved in the planning and kidnap of Chibok girls,” Kyari said.
“It was an intelligence-led operation. We have been monitoring them for about six months to one year.”
The suspects are alleged to have masterminded over 50 suicide bomb attacks within Maiduguri and Adamawa. They also launched several other attacks leading to the death of thousands of Nigerians.
The students of the Government Girls Secondary school in Chibok were captured by the members of the terrorist group on April 14, 2014, an incident that triggered international outrage and campaign for the rescue of the schoolgirls.
So far, 112 of the girls have regained their freedom, mainly following negotiations between the Federal Government and representatives of the terrorist group.