ABUJA, nigeria — Nigeria's government and Islamic extremists from Boko Haram have agreed to an immediate cease-fire, officials said Friday, in a move that could end five years of insurgency that has killed thousands and left hundreds of thousands homeless in Africa's most populous nation.
But many people expressed doubts Friday about the development, and the fate of more than 200 missing schoolgirls abducted by the insurgents six months ago remains unclear. Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade said their release is being negotiated.
Boko Haram negotiators "assured that the schoolgirls and all other people in their captivity are all alive and well," said Mike Omeri, the government spokesman on the insurgency, at a news conference.
French President Francois Hollande welcomed the "good news" and said in Paris that the girls' release "could happen in the coming hours and days." France has been involved in negotiations that led to the release of several of its citizens kidnapped by Boko Haram in Cameroon.
The chief of defense staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, announced the truce and ordered his troops to comply with the agreement. "Already, the terrorists have announced a cease-fire in furtherance of their desire for peace," Omeri said. "In this regard, the government of Nigeria has, in similar vein, declared a cease-fire."
It could take days for word to get to fighters of Boko Haram, which is broken into several groups. They include foreigners from neighboring countries Chad, Cameroon and Niger, where the insurgents also have camps.
There was no word from Boko Haram, which limits its announcements almost exclusively to videos of its leader Abubakar Shekau. Last year, when a government minister charged with negotiations announced an agreement, the group published a video denying it. Leader Shekau said at that time that whoever the government negotiated with did not speak for him.
The United States, which had sent a team including hostage negotiators to help free the girls, said it could not confirm a cease-fire.
Boko Haram — the group's nickname means "education is sinful" — attracted international condemnation with the April 15 kidnapping of 276 girls and young women from a boarding school in the remote northeastern town of Chibok.
Dozens escaped on their own in the first couple of days, but 219 remain missing. Their plight drew protests around the world with demands that the military and government get them free.
Omeri confirmed there had been direct negotiations this week about the release of the girls. Another official said the talks took place in Chad with Danladi Ahmadu, who was identified as the Saudi Arabia-based secretary general of Boko Haram. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to talk to reporters.
But two people involved in previous negotiations with the extremists said they had never heard of Ahmadu. Both spoke on condition their names were not published because of the sensitivity of the issue.
Doubts also were expressed on Twitter by Ahmad Salkida, a Saudi-based Nigerian journalist living in self-exile because of his links with top leaders of Boko Haram.
Salkida suggested the cease-fire announcement was a political ploy as President Goodluck Jonathan prepares to announce he will run again for the presidency in February elections.
The chief government negotiator, Ambassador Hassan Tukur, said the Boko Haram representatives he had talked with had provided bona fides by freeing hostages.