Members of the Chibok community in Borno on Sunday lauded the Federal Government for securing the release of 82 girls out of those abducted on April 14, 2014 by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

Across section of those interviewed by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Chibok, specifically commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the gesture.

“Sincerely speaking I am overwhelmed, this is the kind of information that we have long waited for.

“We appreciate God first and appreciate the government especially the presidency which championed the negotiations,” Mr Ayuba Alamson a community leader said.

He expressed the hope that every other person in captivity of the insurgents will also be set free.

“We pray that this will lead to the release of the remaining girls and all the people that have been captured by the insurgents.

“Our prayer is all of them will be released,” Alamson said.

Alhaji Zanna Modu the District Head of Chibok corroborated the feeling,

“We want to commend all those individuals, organisations the Federal and the Borno State Governments for their role in ensuring the release of the girls.

“Our prayer is for God to give them more wisdom to intervene, so that this thing will come to an end completely.

“I also pray for the president for God to grant him good health, so he can fulfill all the promises he made to Nigeria like the release of all the Chibok girls and ending Boko Haram insurgency.”

Also speaking Elder Solomon Samuel, a community leader, described the latest released of the girls as a big surprise.

“Most people did not sleep yesterday in Chibok, they were praying, praising God and some were even shedding tears of joy because of the news.

“I did not sleep until 1 a.m. because of the report on the release of the girls,” Samuel said.

He added: “Sincerely speaking we cannot quantify the level of joy in the community.

“We pray that the next information we will get is that the remaining girls have been released.

“I want to call on all Boko Haram members that violent campaign will not help them.

“It is high time for them to embrace dialogue let them surrender and embrace dialogue so that peace will return.” (NAN)

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