#BringBackOurGirls: Will it happen? Nigeria says yes; Boko Haram silent

By Ben Brumfield, CNN

October 22, 2014 -- Updated 0946 GMT (1746 HKT)

He kept fighting for missing girls

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Nigeria's government said the deal to release the girls was part of a ceasefire agreement
• Boko Haram has not confirmed the deal, and continuing battles have been tied to them
• Experts have doubts the deal will materialize; they say seeing is believing
• Militants kidnapped some 276 girls in April and are believe to be holding some 200 of them

(CNN) -- Will they really finally go free?

The Nigerian government says that more than 200 girls abducted by Boko Haram in April are to be released as early as Monday, after it signed a ceasefire agreement with the Islamists.

People around the world are hoping the girls will be set free, but there are skeptics -- and bad signs coming from Boko Haram.

After the girls were kidnapped from the village of Chibok, the hashtag mantra #BringBackOurGirls kicked off an avalanches of posts.

Celebrities like First Lady Michelle Obama, teen Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, and actor Sean Penn joined in.

Even Pope Francis took to Twitter to call for their release.

Now, after the government made the announcement of their possible release, the hashtag has reawakened with messages of hope and anticipation.

"I am desperate for their return. I must sing a new song of joy," one poster wrote.