Nigerian government and Boko Haram reach cease-fire deal

The Nigerian government has agreed to an immediate cease-fire with the Islamist militant group, Boko Haram on Friday. Negotiations are underway to release the more-than 200 girls abducted by the militant group six months ago.

According to the Associated Press, government spokesman, Mike Omeri told reporters that Boko Haram negotiators “assured that the schoolgirls and all other people in their captivity are all alive and well.”

Similarly, Nigerian troops were ordered to stand down and comply with the cease-fire agreement.

The announcement came today after month-long negotiation efforts between representatives from the militant group and Nigerian delegates. The Nigerian presidential aide Hassan Tukur, told BBC that talks were mediated by Chad.

The militant group is demanding the release of its top commanders from prison in exchange for the abducted school girls. Omeri said “the terrorists have announced a cease-fire in furtherance of their desire for peace. In this regard, the government of Nigeria has, in similar vein, declared a cease-fire.”

Boko Haram sparked international outrage when it kidnapped 276 girls from a boarding school located in the remote north-eastern town of Chibok. And Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan received criticism for his government’s poor rescue efforts.

News of the brokered cease-fire prompted members of the Bring Back Our Girls campaign to tweet “We are monitoring the news with huge expectations.”

We are monitoring the news with huge expectations http://t.co/L01FrUFKwz #BringBackOurGirls

— #BringBackOurGirls (@BBOG_Nigeria) October 17, 2014

The militant group has been engaged in a five year insurgency that has resulted in the killing of approximately 20,000 civilians and left thousands of others homeless in the oil rich country. This cease-fire deal could mean the end of the insurgency.