Boko Haram and Nigeria agree ceasefire

Nigeria’s government and Islamic extremists from Boko Haram have agreed to an immediate ceasefire, officials said.

The fate of more than 200 missing schoolgirls abducted by the insurgents six months ago remains unclear. Defence Ministry spokesman major general Chris Olukolade said their release is still being negotiated.

Boko Haram negotiators “assured that the schoolgirls and all other people in their captivity are all alive and well,” Mike Omeri, the government spokesman on the insurgency, told a news conference.