A Nigerian government official has said a number of girls kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014 have been released.
The girls were among 220 kidnapped in the northern town of Chibok in 2014 and this would be the largest group to be freed.
Confusion surrounded how many girls had been released with earlier reports putting the figure at between 50 and 80 but the exact number has not been confirmed.
The group representing the families of the girls said they were awaiting confirmation on how many had been released.
An official said the girls were released through negotiations with the government.
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A minister and father of two of the girls said: “I can confirm they have been released.”
A military source said the girls were currently in Banki near the Cameroon border for medical checks before being airlifted to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state.
The kidnappings sparked a global campaign #bringbackourgirls supported by then US First Lady Michelle Obama.
Bukky Shonibare one of the founders of the campaign said: “This is exciting news for us, for the parents and the Chibok community. A very exciting and welcome development.”
About 21 Chibok were released in October in a deal thrashed out by Switzerland and the International Red Cross.
A Nigerian government spokesman said a statement would be released soon giving exact details of the girls’ release.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said last month that the government was in talks to secure the release of the remaining captives.
As well as the Chibok girls, Boko Haram has kidnapped thousands of adults and children.
Militants have killed more than 20,000 people and displaced more than two million during their insurgency aimed at creating an Islamic caliphate in northeast Nigeria.
