Boko Haram releases kidnapped schoolgirls

Boko Haram extremists have returned most of the 110 girls abducted from their Nigeria boarding school a month ago with an ominous warning, witnesses said.

The fighters rolled into Dapchi at around 2am yesterday in nine vehicles and the girls were left in the centre of the town.

As terrified residents emerged from their homes, the extremists said “this is a warning to you all”, resident Ba’ana Musa said.

“We did it out of pity. And don’t ever put your daughters in school again,” the extremists said. Boko Haram means “Western education is forbidden” in the Hausa language.

Nigeria’s information minister said 76 of the 110 schoolgirls had been confirmed freed and indicated that the number would rise as the release was “ongoing”.

“No ransoms were paid,” the minister, Lai Mohammed, said in a statement.