Officials say an unspecified number of the girls abducted by insurgent group, Boko Haram from a school in Chibok area in Borno state have been released, according to an unconfirmed report by The Cable.
The Cable says a senior military source disclosed that two Toyota Hiace buses filled with the girls were brought to Maimalari Barracks, Maiduguri on the evening of Tuesday, September 23, 2014.
The online newspaper quotes Defence spokesperson, Major General Chris Olukolade as saying, “What I can confirm now is that some of the girls are already in the barracks.”
Update at 18:56 Nigerian Time
Major General Chris Olukolade, Director of Defence Information has just told The Trent that the Chibok schoolgirls have not been released. He replied to a text message in which we sought to confirm the story which has already widely been reported in the media.
Defence Headquarters has also tweeted a confirmation of the true situation.
The Story circulating in respect of release of the #Chibok girls is untrue. Buses drove into the barracks but conveyed other individuals. RT
— DEFENCE HQ NIGERIA (@DefenceInfoNG) September 23, 2014
Premium Times continues to stand by its story, insisting that the online newspaper did speak with Olukolade.
Another military sources says, “The buses that drove into the barracks were conveying other individuals. Thanks.”
The original story is apparently a false alarm.
Updated on 21:07 Nigerian Time
Major General Chris Olukolade, Director of Defence Information in apparent reaction to Premium Times’ insistence that he retracted his earlier statement confirming the release of some of the Chibok schoolgirls, took to Twitter to set the record straight with four tweets below.
We have a way of doing things. Official online channels for real time announcements and traditional protocols of issuing messages. Forget it
— Gen. Chris Olukolade (@GENOlukolade) September 23, 2014
NO statement was ever made claiming the girls have been released /1
— Gen. Chris Olukolade (@GENOlukolade) September 23, 2014
My response to an enquiry by BBC on whether or not they (the Girls) have been released was met with – Give me sometime to Get Back /2
— Gen. Chris Olukolade (@GENOlukolade) September 23, 2014
I confirmed to the enquirer in part, the movement of 2 Buses into the barracks with escorts. NOTHING ELSE /3
— Gen. Chris Olukolade (@GENOlukolade) September 23, 2014
I confirmed and found that the girls in the Buses were not newly released Chibok Girls. /4
— Gen. Chris Olukolade (@GENOlukolade) September 23, 2014
Before this time the BBC & 2 Online Media enquirers had already published that I confirmed the release. BAD /5
— Gen. Chris Olukolade (@GENOlukolade) September 23, 2014
BBC called after their release & I told them their release report was not true. The @DefenceInfoNG tweeted this upon this MESSY discovery /6
— Gen. Chris Olukolade (@GENOlukolade) September 23, 2014
The whole story NEVER emanated from me as claimed /7
— Gen. Chris Olukolade (@GENOlukolade) September 23, 2014
