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Boko Haram, Nigeria negotiating release of kidnapped girls

Boko Haram said it would release 30 kidnapped Nigerian girls in exchange for the Nigerian government releasing 30 imprisoned members of the terror group.

By Danielle Haynes

ABUJA, Nigeria, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Boko Haram is negotiating the release of more than 200 school girls with the Nigerian government and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The Islamist terror group is seeking the release of at least 30 of its members imprisoned by Nigeria in exchange for some of the girls, who were kidnapped in April, a source involved with the negotiations told CNN.

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There have been four meetings with the three entities in Abuja since mid-August.

"The two Boko Haram negotiators assured the ICRC and government negotiators that the girls were never raped, were never used as sex slaves and were never sexually assaulted," the source said.

Boko Haram and Nigeria haven't been able to see eye-to-eye regarding the number of girls to be exchanged for the 30 prisoners.

"They were only ready to release one to one, which the government was not going to accept," the source said.

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