Reuters journalists saw dozens of teenage girls wearing blue head coverings and face masks filling up a government hall.

Most appeared to be unharmed, but at least a dozen was sent to hospital for treatment.

Um Omar Abu Baka recalls her experience.

Most of us were wounded on our feet and we could not continue tracking, so the captors said they would shoot anybody who did not continue to walk.

We walked across the river and they hit us unless asleep under shrubs in a forest.

Gunmen raided the Government Girls Science Secondary School in the town of Jan Gaby at around 1 a.m. on Friday.

Earlier reports said 317 girls were abducted, but the state governor said some hid in the bush and the 279 missing were now back home.

Bala Rob Kagera was reunited with his 14 year old daughters.

I'm very happy indeed God has made this ordeal that we found ourselves in come to an end.

We are happy we thank God for everything.

The state governor said repentant bandits working with the government under an amnesty program had helped secure the girls' release.

Armed criminal groups have targeted Nigerian schools with mass kidnappings for ransom.

In a trend started by the jihadist group, Boko Haram President Muhammadu Buhari warned against paying ransoms to kidnappers, which the national government has denied doing.

He said ransom payments will continue to encourage kidnapping and urged the police and the military to bring the kidnappers to justice.