Nigeria agrees to cease-fire with Boko Haram extremists
In April, 276 Nigerian schoolgirls were kidnapped, garnering worldwide attention and inspiring the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. On Friday, a top military official in Nigeria announced that the government had reached a deal with Boko Haram's Islamic extremists, with the hope that the 219 girls who are still missing will be released.
The Associated Press reports that the deal was announced by Air Marshall Alex Badeh, Nigeria's chief of defense staff. The Nigerian government, however, did not issue an official statement, nor did Boko Haram.
Major General Chris Olukolade added to Badeh's announcement that the cease-fire will begin immediately. The deal "could end five years of insurgency that has killed thousands and left hundreds of thousands homeless," the AP notes. Mike Omeri, a government spokesperson, also stated that the government and Boko Haram held discussions about the schoolgirls' potential release this week.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In May, Boko Haram released a video admitting responsibility for the abduction of the schoolgirls, vowing to "sell them on the market, by Allah." Boko Haram's leader, Abubakar Shekau, has also claimed that he would be willing to swap the schoolgirls in return for the release of imprisoned Boko Haram militants. However, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has stated in the past that he would not perform such a trade.
-
What will the US economy look like in 2026?Today’s Big Question Wall Street is bullish, but uncertain
-
Alaa Abd el-Fattah: should Egyptian dissident be stripped of UK citizenship?Today's Big Question Resurfaced social media posts appear to show the democracy activist calling for the killing of Zionists and police
-
Biggest political break-ups and make-ups of 2025The Explainer From Trump and Musk to the UK and the EU, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a round-up of the year’s relationship drama
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstancesSpeed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governorSpeed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditionsSpeed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billionSpeed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on recordSpeed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homesSpeed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creatureSpeed Read
