Nigerian army says it has regained town of Chibok

Associated Press

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria

The Nigerian army has regained control of Chibok, the northeastern town where more than 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped by Islamic extremists more than six months ago, said army officials.

The army wrested back control of Chibok on Saturday, about 48 hours after it had been captured by the Islamic militants of Boko Haram, Nigerian army spokesman Brigadier General Olajide Olaleye told the Associated Press.

The Nigerian Army claimed Oct. 17 that it had established a cease-fire with Boko Haram and it was negotiating for the release of the kidnapped schoolgirls. But Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, in a video released last month, denied there was any truce and said the girls had all converted to Islam and been married off to his fighters.

On Sunday a suicide bomber set off an explosion that killed 13 and injured 65 in the northeastern town of Azare, police said.