Three abducted lecturers of the University of Maiduguri were yesterday let out of Boko Haram captivity, 201 days after they were seized.
Also freed by the terror sect were 10 women kidnapped during a raid by the militant group on a military/police convoy on Damboa road, near Maiduguri.
The lecturers were part of a team of consultants engaged by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for oil prospecting in Kukawa area of Lake Chad, northern Borno.
They unexpectedly ran into a Boko Haram ambush while returning to Maiduguri with security escorts including Civilian JTF at Magumeri road and were subsequently overpowered and abducted.
Some of their colleagues were killed during the abduction.
Presidential Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mallam Garba Shehu, confirmed the release last night.
He said: “Their release followed a series of negotiations as directed by President Buhari and was facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC.
“In expectation of their being brought to the DSS headquarters, a team of doctors and psychologists has been placed on standby. The rescued persons may be presented to the President and thereafter released to their families, if there are no issues of security or medical concerns.
“The President, who got step by step progress reports on the lengthy negotiations while they took place, received the good news with a lot of happiness. He commended all those who in one way or the other helped in making the release possible”.