The Nigerian military, battling insurgency in the northeast, has had no news of more than 200 girls abducted 11 months ago by Boko Haram Islamists, the army chief has said.

Responding to a question from reporters on the fate of the missing 219 schoolgirls, Lieutenant General Kenneth Minimah said “no news for now.”

“In all the liberated areas we have also made enquiries,” but when the Boko Haram fighters flee they take their dependants  with them, he told reporters after a security council meeting.

“Those we have come in contact with have not made any comment suggesting that the Chibok girls were there and were taken away,” he added.

Nevertheless Minimah said he remained optimistic that details of the girls’ whereabouts would  become known as the size of the territory under Boko Haram control continues to shrink.

Boko Haram insurgents abducted a total of 276 school girls from Chibok, in northeastern Borno state, in April 2014.