Some female students kidnapped from a boarding school in the north-western Nigerian state of Zamfara have been released.

The schoolgirls were seized by gunmen in Jangebe on Friday morning.

The state’s commissioner for security and internal affairs, Abubakar Muhammad Dauran, told the press that a total of 279 students were freed and are currently in the state capital, Gusau.

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the kidnapping. He described it as “inhumane and totally unacceptable”.

The Governor of Zamfara state, Bello Matawalle while meeting with the girls this morning, said that the girls were released after negotiations with the gunmen.

He added that no ransom was paid for their release.

Schools in Nigeria have been subject to attacks by armed groups, with more than 600 students abducted since December in three different incidents.

All the victims of previous attacks have however been freed after negotiations with the abductors.

By Sandrine M.