Nigerian military admit 85 out of more than 100 abducted girls still missing

The military in Nigeria has reportedly admitted that contrary to its earlier claims, most of the teenaged girls abducted by the Boko Haram Islamist group have not been freed.

According to education authorities in Borno state, 85 girls are still missing and 44 in total have managed to escape, the BBC reported.

Meanwhile, an army spokesperson said that intensive efforts to find them are continuing.

Earlier, the country's military said that more than 100 female students kidnapped by suspected Islamic militants from a school in the north-east of Nigeria have been set free, the country's military said.

According to the report, the Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima, said 129 students were kidnapped and at least 14 freed themselves.

The girls were abducted hours after an explosion blamed on extremists killed 75 people in Nigeria's capital, Abuja.