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Tag: Leah Sharibu

  • FG: We have not given up on Chibok girls, Leah Sharibu

    FG: We have not given up on Chibok girls, Leah Sharibu

    The National Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) Maj-Gen. Adamu Garba Laka has said that the federal government and security agencies have not given up hope on rescuing the remaining Chibok girls and Leah Sharibu.

    Gen. Laka gave the assurance during a press briefing on the State Expansion Programme for the Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell, organized with the UK National Crime Agency, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

    The Nation recalled that 276 girls were kidnapped on the night of 14 April 2014, from the Government Girls Secondary School in the town of Chibok in Borno State.

    While some have been rescued or escaped from the terrorists den, eleven years later, 87 are still in captivity.

    Meanwhile, Leah Sharibu and 109 other school girls were abducted from the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College (GGSTC) in Dapchi in Yobe State on 19 February 2018.

    General Laka explained that the government has not forgotten the remaining abductees, adding that several of the girls have been rescued by security forces.

    He said, “Since when they were kidnapped, those who were rescued were not just rescued one time, It was a gradual process. Negotiations were done, trying to get them out. Operations were conducted.

    Read Also: Leah Sharibu’s mother marks daughter’s 22nd birthday in captivity

    “Luckily, at the beginning of that, towards the year after they were kidnapped, I was in the theatre, and I know what the military and intelligence agencies put in to rescue the initial set of the Chibok girls. 

    “We haven’t given up hope on them, some of them were married to some of the insurgents. Some have come out. But let our focus not only be on the Chibok girls.There are others that have been kidnapped aid workers, Nigerian aid workers that were kidnapped. We’ve rescued some that are working for UNICEF, UNHCR, IOM and so on. So, we haven’t relented on our efforts. 

    “There is also the issue of this lady, Leah Sharibu, not because it’s not always in the press. Because we are not always talking about it, doesn’t mean we don’t care. It doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten about them. We are still on it. Our prayer is that the whole 87 or 80 plus that are left will be rescued. By God’s grace.”

  • Leah Sharibu’s mother marks daughter’s 22nd birthday in captivity

    Leah Sharibu’s mother marks daughter’s 22nd birthday in captivity

    Rebecca Sharibu, mother of Christian schoolgirl Leah Sharibu abducted by Boko Haram in 2018, has marked her 22nd birthday in captivity, seven years after being taken from her school in Dapchi, Yobe State.

    Rebecca released a heartfelt video message on the occasion, expressing the overwhelming pain of their prolonged separation.

    Leah was among 110 girls kidnapped from Government Girls’ Science and Technical College on February 19, 2018 but singled out and held captive for refusing to renounce her Christian faith.

    Rebecca appealed to people of faith and conscience to continue praying for Leah and others still held captive due to their religious beliefs.

    The case has drawn international attention, with organisations like Open Doors UK advocating for Leah’s freedom.

  • Group renews call for Leah Sharibu’s release

    Group renews call for Leah Sharibu’s release

    As the world marks International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025 under the theme, ‘For All Women and Girls: Rights. Equality,’, the Association of Christian Correspondents of Nigeria (ACCoN) has once again urged the Nigerian government to take urgent steps toward securing the release of Leah Sharibu, who has remained in captivity for seven years.

    Leah, one of 110 schoolgirls abducted on February 19, 2018, from the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, by the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), was reportedly denied freedom for refusing to renounce her Christian faith. While her schoolmates were eventually released, she remains a hostage, symbolizing the plight of countless women and girls held captive by terrorist groups.

    In a statement signed by its president, Adeola Ogunlade, ACCoN expressed deep frustration over the government’s failure to secure Leah’s release, alongside thousands of other women and girls still in captivity.

    “Leah Sharibu has tragically spent most of her adolescent years in captivity simply for holding true to her faith,” ACCoN stated.

    Read Also: Young Nigerians in politics (4)

    The association urged the Federal Government, security agencies, and all relevant stakeholders to intensify efforts toward securing the freedom of Leah and others still held by terrorist factions.

    ACCoN described Leah’s continued captivity as a grim reminder of Nigeria’s security crisis and the urgent need to uphold fundamental human rights, including freedom of religion.

    “Leah’s courage in the face of unimaginable adversity remains a beacon of hope and inspiration, especially for young girls in Nigeria,” the statement continued.

    “We reaffirm our commitment to being a voice for the voiceless and advocating for peace, justice, and security in Nigeria.”

    As the world celebrates women’s resilience and rights, ACCoN insists that Leah Sharibu’s story must not be forgotten and that every effort must be made to bring her home safely.

  • Leah Sharibu and the rest

    Different folks, different strokes! This best describes the situations of two sets of Boko Haram abductees; 106 of the kidnapped girls at Chibok in 2015 who were rescued by the Federal Government, and Leah Sharibu, another Boko Haram victim who has spent over 600 days in captivity, and is still counting. Sharibu was kidnapped alongside some 109 other students from their school in Dapchi, Yobe State, on February 19, 2018.

    Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had in 2014 offered 15 scholarships to the Chibok girls, some of whom have graduated. American billionaire, Robert Smith, in 2016 offered 24 of them scholarship and then in 2017, the Federal Government offered scholarship to the 106. While the other freed girls are now being treated like princesses, Sharibu is still out there, languishing in captivity.

    We appreciate the Federal Government’s decision to get the 106 educated; at least that was one of the things the terrorists never wanted. They say western education is sinful. Yet, virtually everything they use in their illicit business, from motorcycles, cars, to explosives are all products of Western science. Talk of being hypocritical!

    However, the Federal Government has done well to have ensured that the nasty experience did not stop the girls from getting sound education. This would send appropriate signals to those who do not believe that the girl-child needs to be educated. Both the male and female children deserve to be educated these days because there is no position that men have occupied that is exclusive for them; many women have also excelled in those positions and continue to do so.

    Our concern however is why the choice of American University of Nigeria, Yola? Of course we are not worried about whether the university was founded by former Vice-President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the last election, Atiku Abubakar. No. After all, Abubakar is a Nigerian and nothing says the government cannot patronise his school or service.

    But the expensive nature of the university is our concern. We do not have to part with N360million to educate 106 persons. At about N2million to N2.6m for tuition for non-engineering courses; and about N375,000 to N650,000 for accommodation per session and N483,140 and N678,300, depending on feeding plans per student, the university is one of the most expensive universities in the country. These, of course exclude sundry charges. We guess this must have informed the huge budgetary provision of N360million for what the government called ‘specialised education programme’ of these girls. This means about N3.3million is to be spent educating each of them per year.

    To us, this is rather exorbitant, especially at a time when the government is complaining of a lean purse. It is possible for the government to get good education for these girls without spending so much. It also reflects a lack of faith in its own public universities. Be that as it may, we cannot say the government should withdraw them from the university. Suffice it to say that we expect that the Federal Government would extend such compassion to efforts at bringing Sharibu back home. The point is; we do not even know what she is facing in the hands of her captors right now.  They refused to let her go when they freed her colleagues because she refused to renounce Christianity.

    Has she shifted grounds or is she still stuck to her Christian fidelity? Has she bonded with her captors like some of the kidnapped schoolgirls? Is she possibly betrothed to one of them? The Federal Government should realise what her parents are going through. They want answers to these questions and probably more. That is why they have kept her issue alive and are using every landmark date to remind the Federal Government and the world that their little daughter is still in captivity, far from home.

    Once more, we appeal to the Federal Government to redouble efforts at securing Sharibu’s release as well as ensure freedom for as many of the kidnapped girls that are still in captivity. The impression out there is that the government is silent on the matter now because it wants to quietly wish it away.

  • Will Chibok girls, Leah Sharibu ever be found?

    Sir: History mirrors our yesterday. Its verdict may be harsh or kind depending our actions or inaction today. So, last week, a sad chapter of our history was once again laid bare when the Bring Back Our Girls Group marked 2000 days of Chibok girls’ abduction.

    Of course, it was not surprising that the name of former President Jonathan popped up being the occupant of Nigeria’s number one office at the time the girls were stolen. In his memoir, For The Record, former British Prime Minister, David Cameron, had accused the Otuoke-born ex-Nigerian leader of failing to give enough support to Britain when it volunteered to rescue the abducted girls, saying he was a leader that slept on the wheel.

    Expectedly, his accusation triggered brickbats between him and the former Nigerian leader with Jonathan urging the general public to take his accusation with a pinch of salt. He called it a fairy tale calculated at casting him in a bad light.

    To be frank, Cameron did not say anything new about the Chibok abduction that happened on April 14, 2014.The former Nigerian president can deny that there was never an offer to help by the British government.

    What cannot be denied is the fact that for complete two weeks after the abduction, he maintained a deafening silence because he reasoned that the abduction was part of the plans by his political enemies to bring down his government. Also, it cannot be denied that on his watch, Boko Haram flourished and became one of the deadliest terrorist groups in the world. No one can also deny that at least 112 Chibok girls are still missing more than five years after they were abducted. It is also not a lie that his former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, is in the custody of the Department of State Services(DSS) following allegations that he funneled defense funds into elections at a time Boko Haram conquered swathes of territories in the northeast.

    Truth be told, leaders in this part of the world hardly take responsibility for their actions or inaction. It explains why Jonathan would see the Chibok abduction as a conspiracy against his government instead of an evidence of the failure of the government in tackling the worrying security problem that beset Nigeria during his stint as Nigeria’s president.

    But alas, Dapchi happened on President Buhari’s watch. And over 100 girls were herded away in trucks. Though it is true that the response of the present government was swift when juxtaposed with the Chibok abduction, five girls were reported dead and one girl, Leah Sharibu is still in captivity. It remains to be seen how Buhari’s APC has the bragging rights to taunt the PDP under Jonathan for failing to secure Nigeria and Nigerians.

    Buhari had promised that every Nigerian child would be safe in their schools in the run-up to the 2015 election. Only recently, armed men attacked Engravers College, a boarding secondary school in Chikun, Kaduna State and abducted two staff and six female students.

    Like the missing Chibok girls and Leah Sharibu, they are victims of the failure of the people who swore to protect them. Their sin: they dared to seek knowledge. Despite several assurances from the presidency that abducted Chibok girls and Leah Sharibu would be reunited with their families, they remain in the den of their abductors, leaving their distraught loved ones in the prison of hope.

    What appears to be an advertisement of the hopeless and helpless situation of the worsening security problem bedevilling Nigeria is the resolve of the Borno State government to engage prayer warriors to bring back the peace that has eluded his state and the entire north.

    The action of the state government is a reminder of how we abandon leprosy to treat ringworm. Was it up to a month that it was reported that our soldiers still use obsolete equipment bought during the Shagari era? And prayer warriors are expected to do the magic obsolete equipment can’t do? Shouldn’t we demonstrate seriousness in leveraging technology to combat the rising spate of insecurity across the land like what obtains in same climes?  What are those in the power loop doing to take away the over 10 million out-of- school children that represent time bombs on our streets? Why are more people getting trapped in the chasm of poverty every passing day?

    Until we stop paying lip service to the issues that threaten our peace and unity, Dapchi and Chibok will continue to happen. Our missing girls must not be forgotten.

     

    • Ladesope Ladelokun,  ladesopeladelokun@gmail.com 

  • Leah Sharibu is alive, we’re working hard on her release, says presidency

    THE Presidency on Saturday assured Nigerians that Leah Sharibu, the Government Girls Science and Technical Secondary School, Dapchi, who was abducted by Boko Haram in February 2018, is still very much alive.

    It also said it has not relented in working hard to secure her release so that she can reunite with her family in due course.

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on  Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, told reporters in Abuja that the Buhari administration will not give up on Leah’s safe return.

    ‘‘Instead of giving up, the government is carrying forward processes that should hopefully yield her release by her captors,” Shehu said against the background of fresh concern over her safety.

    He said that much of what has been written about the girl in the press is false.

    According to him, “Lines of communications remain open with the kidnappers, ISWA, to secure the release of Leah Sharibu.

    ‘‘Contrary to false reports, she is alive – given assurances from our security agencies-, and the government is committed to her safe return, as well as all other hostages to their families.

    Read Also: Hope for Leah Sharibu as she turns 16

    “Kidnapping for ransom should never be encouraged. This means not capitulating to the demands of terrorists: refrain from rewarding their heinous crimes with payment.

    “With the abduction of loved family and friends, the government understands how difficult these times are for them, but government is pursuing many options to ensure the safe return of Leah Sharibu.

    “We must commit to law and communication, using the breadth of strategies at our disposal: legal initiatives, stakeholder cooperation, involvement of all relevant parties and the use of the latest hostage negotiation techniques.

    ‘‘Kidnapping for ransom is rising across the Sahel. We must – collectively – make sure we implement best practice to prevent its exploitation.’’

    Appealing for patience in dealing with the challenge the case poses, the Presidential spokesman assured that the administration is fully conscious that any misstep on a delicate issue as this can be costly.

  • Leah Sharibu is alive, we’re working hard on her release, says presidency

    THE Presidency on Saturday assured Nigerians that Leah Sharibu, the Government Girls Science and Technical Secondary School, Dapchi, who was abducted by Boko Haram in February 2018, is still very much alive.

    It also said it has not relented in working hard to secure her release so that she can reunite with her family in due course.

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on  Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, told reporters in Abuja that the Buhari administration will not give up on Leah’s safe return.

    ‘‘Instead of giving up, the government is carrying forward processes that should hopefully yield her release by her captors,” Shehu said against the background of fresh concern over her safety.

    He said that much of what has been written about the girl in the press is false.

    According to him, “Lines of communications remain open with the kidnappers, ISWA, to secure the release of Leah Sharibu.

    ‘‘Contrary to false reports, she is alive – given assurances from our security agencies-, and the government is committed to her safe return, as well as all other hostages to their families.

    Read Also: Leah Sharibu’s mother hopeful daughter is alive

    “Kidnapping for ransom should never be encouraged. This means not capitulating to the demands of terrorists: refrain from rewarding their heinous crimes with payment.

    “With the abduction of loved family and friends, the government understands how difficult these times are for them, but government is pursuing many options to ensure the safe return of Leah Sharibu.

    “We must commit to law and communication, using the breadth of strategies at our disposal: legal initiatives, stakeholder cooperation, involvement of all relevant parties and the use of the latest hostage negotiation techniques.

    ‘‘Kidnapping for ransom is rising across the Sahel. We must – collectively – make sure we implement best practice to prevent its exploitation.’’

    Appealing for patience in dealing with the challenge the case poses, the Presidential spokesman assured that the administration is fully conscious that any misstep on a delicate issue as this can be costly.

  • We are confident Leah Sharibu is alive – ECWA

    The President of Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Rev. Stephen Panyan Baba, has said that the church is confident that the kidnapped Dapchigirl, Leah Sharibu, is alive.

    Baba said this in a chat with newsmen on Saturday in Lagos.

    A video surfaced online on Thursday, July 25, that had some humanitarian aid workers, including one Grace Taku, abducted by the insurgent group on Thursday, July 18.

    In the video, Grace was seen begging the Nigerian government to assist in facilitating their release from the Boko Haram enclave.

    She then adds that Leah, one of the Dapchi schoolgirls that were kidnapped by the terrorists, had been killed.

    According to her, Leah was killed because the federal government could not ‘do something’.

    He said, “We all know Leah Sharibu was among the 110 Dapchi schoolgirls kidnapped from Yobe State on February 19, 2018. She was the only Christian schoolgirl who was not released by the abductors. The fact that she was the only Christian among the 110 school girls that were not released speaks dastardly orientation of the abductors and their sponsor.

    Read Also: Abducted Aid Worker Cries for Help

    “The other girl, Alice Loksha, was abducted while providing humanitarian service in Borno State. These young women unfortunately are my church members. We have continued to pray to God and appeal to government to negotiate for their release but up till now, nothing has been done”.

    “Sadly, Grace, the lady along with some men who were recently shown in a trending video, has been added to the unfortunate narrative. These are aside the remaining Chibok Christian school girls still held in captivity. We are confident that Leah Sharibu is alive.”

    “At this moment, we are not in the position to confirm whether she is alive or dead. But we are praying and still trusting God that Leah is alive and that by God’s mercy and his glory, Leah will be returned to us.”

    He also urged the federal government to ensure that the security challenges bedeviling the country is tackled, so as to return the country to path of orderliness and peace by ensuring the strict adherence to the principles of equity and justice for all.

    Rev. Baba further advised Nigerians to avoid ethnic and religious profiling of criminals.

    “Nigerians should avoid ethnic and religious profiling of criminals. People who commit various criminalities do so on their own accord and not as representatives of their tribal or religious groups.”

  • CAN to Buhari: Show commitment, ensure release of Leah Sharibu, Grace, others 

    The President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the release of Miss Leah Sharibu, Grace Taku and other hostages in the den of the Boko Haram terrorists.

    The primary duty of any serious government, according to the CAN President, is the security of lives and property of the governed.

    CAN said any government that cannot guarantee this primary responsibility may lose the confidence of the citizens.

    In a statement issued yesterday and signed by Special Assistant (Media) to the CAN President, Pastor Bayo Oladeji, the leadership of CAN said it had watched a video from the Boko Haram terrorists’ camp where Grace Taku, an aide worker of Action for Hunger, had appealed to the Federal Government, CAN and other well-meaning people to secure her freedom and those of the other five victims who were recently attacked and abducted by their captors recently.

    “The Boko Haram sect sometimes in April this year reportedly kidnapped a National Youth Service Corps member, Abraham Amuta, and a cleric with Living Faith Church (Winners’ Chapel) identified as Pastor Moses Oyeleke in Borno State. We have not heard anything about their whereabouts.

    “We have heard the prompt response made by the Federal Government to the Save-Our-Soul cry of Grace and we join her in calling on President Muhammadu Buhari and the security agencies, especially the Department of State Security, to secure her freedom and that of  Leah Sharibu before getting too late. Grace Taku has cried out on behalf of other hostages.

    “We urge the Federal Government to expedite action towards the captives’ release, as in that of  Dapchi girls, except Leah Sharibu. We believe strongly that Leah Sharibu is still alive hale and hearty, and she and others must be set free from the captivity. Enough of paying a lip service to the menace of security challenges in the country.

    Read also: #BBOG wants FG to confirm or deny Leah Sharibu’s death

    “We have been calling for a total overhauling of the security apparatus of the country, and we have asked the developed nations to assist Nigeria in combating the challenges before the country becomes unbearable. There is no exaggeration to say Nigerian roads are unsafe as kidnappers, terrorists,  killer herdsmen and bandits are operating with impunity.

    “How come these six aid workers were abducted and taken to the den of the captives without the awareness of the security agencies? What has become their intelligence gathering? Are we sure there are no saboteurs among our security agencies? Is there anything the government and the security agencies are doing to stop this menace that we don’t know,” CAN said.

    The Christian body called on well-meaning people and agencies to join CAN in pleading with our government and the security agencies to: “wake up from their slumber before it will be too late. Our prayer is that the awesome God will come to the aid of this country. He will free all the captives and comfort all the bereaved of the killings in the country.”

     

  • Leah Sharibu’s mother hopeful daughter is alive

    Mrs. Rebbeca Sharibu, mother of the abducted Dapchi  secondary schoolgirl Leah Sharibu, is still hopeful about her daughter’s return alive.

    Reacting to a video released by Boko Haram where an abducted aid worker, Grace, called on the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN ) and Action Against Hunger, an International Non-Governmental Organisation working in Borno State, to rescue her before she is “killed like other abductees like Alice and Leah Sharibu”.

    According to Mrs. Sharibu, “no matter how long it takes, my hope is still alive that my daughter will come back alive from Boko Haram. I still look forward to that day and I am confident that she will return”.

    Mrs. Sharibu revealed that she had not even seen the video in circulation.

    She reiterated her call to President Muhammadu Buhari to do everything to rescue her daughter, just as she also appealed to the people holding her daughter in captive to release her unconditionally.

    Her words: “I am bothered by the recent silence about my daughter’s case, but I still want to cry to the President. I want our President Buhari to know that my eyes are still wet with tears over my daughter’s abduction. I will continue to cry to him, until my daughter returns to me.

    “I also want to still appeal to the people that are holding my daughter to please have mercy on her and release her without any condition. She does not know anything. What has she done to deserve what she is going through?”

    Our correspondent, who monitored the video reported that Grace, the only woman in a group of six captives, appeared in a video that was allegedly  released by Boko Haram where she called on the authorities to save them from their abductors who she referred to as the “Army of Khalifa”.

    Read Also: Hope for Leah Sharibu as she turns 16

    The address of Grace in the video as monitored by our reporter reads: “My name is Grace, I work with Action Against Hunger, an NGO in Borno state. My base is in Borno State. We went to work on Thursdays on the 18/7/2019 out of Damasak. On our way going back to Damasak by kinari, Chmbawa ward in Damasak, we were caught by these army called the Khalifas. They brought us here. But actually, we don’t know where we are but this minute, I want to beg on CAN, Christian Association of Nigeria because I am the only Christian among the six of us here. I want to beg that CAN should please do something about me to see how I can be released.

    “I also want to beg the Action Against Hunger, Borno State. We are six here, all of us are staff, we went to work and we were caught on our way back from work. I beg ACF, we have families, and some of us have children. I am begging ACF that they should please do something that they will release us.

    “I also want to count on Nigerians – our  nation, we are Nigerians and we are also working for Nigerian. I beg that Nigerian Government should please. I am begging again please do something to see that we are released.  Because this has occurred before in Red Cross where some ladies, Hauwa and Deborah were caught.

    “They also asked to be released but because Nigeria did not do anything about it, they were killed. I am begging on behalf of all of us here that Nigerian should not allow such a thing to happen to us.

    ”It also happened again with Leah and Alice and because Nigeria  could  not do anything about them, they were not released. They were killed. I beg that Nigeria and our Organisation Action Against Hunger should do something and see that we are released.”