The 21 Chibok girls who were released by Islamist rebel group Boko Haram have joined their families for Christmas.

The girls were released in October after Switzerland and the International Red Cross struck a deal with the radical Islamists. They have been since held in a classified location by the Nigerian government for debriefing.

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"I never knew I would return home," 22-year-old Asabe Agoni said, adding that she had long lost hope of ever seeing her family again.

At least 276 students had been kidnapped by the Boko Haram, and the whereabouts of about 197 of them are still unknown. Negotiations for their release are still ongoing.

Many of the kidnapped girls were Christian and were forced to convert to Islam. They were also compelled to marry their kidnappers during their kidnap ordeal.

Recently, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said that the country's armed forces had driven the Boko Haram from their last stronghold in the Sambisa forest.

"The terrorists are on the run and no longer have a place to hide," the president announced.

Speculations had been rife that some of the girls are being held in the forest, after a small number of girls who had managed to escape mentioned it.

While congratulating the army for their successful Sambisa operation, Buhari also said that every effort is being taken to rescue the girls who remain in the hands of the Boko Haram.

The Nigerian army has managed to recapture huge areas of territory from the violent rebel group.

The group, whose leader Abubakar Shekau has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, is estimated to have killed 15,000 people during a seven-year war. They still carry out suicide bombings in Northern Nigeria and in neighboring Cameroon and Niger.

TagsNigeria, Boko Haram