The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Leah Sheribu

  • Leah’s mother condoles Hauwa’s family

    …still hopes of Daughter’s freedom

     

    The mother of Leah Sharibu, the only christian Dapchi girl still held by Boko Haram, Mrs Rebecca Sharibu has condole with the family of Hauwa Liman recently executed by Boko Haram insurgents.

    Mrs Sheribu who spoke with our correpondent on phone called on God to comfort Hauwa’s family while praying for the repose of her soul.

    According to her, the killing of Hauwa by Boko Haram just a few days after the visit of the Federal Government delegation has brought more trauma and disappointment for her but still hopes for the freedom of her daughter.

    “I feel so sad for the killing of Hauwa. Her death has brought more trauma and confusion for us because, the government people visited us just a few days assuring us of the freedom of our children then suddenly the news of the killing of Hauwa came in.

    “My prayers is for Almighty God to comfort her family and grant her soul peace. I am sure that Hauwa is in the bossom of our Lord. For dying in service for humanity, God will surely grant her peace.

    “The last wish of a parent is to see the death of his child. This one is worse because you can’t even see the dead body of your child. Only God can comfort the family,” Mrs. Sharibu said.

    Speaking on her trauma, Mrs Sheribu said, I must tell you that it has not been easy with me and my family. When I heard that they killed Hauwa, I broke down and cried but i still stood up and prayed to God to spare the life of my daughter, Leah. I was actually taken aback by the development but there is nothing God cannot do”.

    Read Also: Leah Sharibu: Beyond the president’s call

    On Boko Haram’s threat that they will keep her daughter as a slave for life, Leah’s mother said, ” I am calling on the Federal Government not to relent from their efforts and promises to secure the release of my daughter and any other person in the hands of Boko Haram.

    “At least they have told us that Leah is still alive so we are still hopeful. We cant lose hope and I am sure God will answer our prayers by touching the hearts of Boko Haram to release my daughter for me,” Rebecca pleaded.

    When asked if the Federal Government has contacted the family after Hauwa’s execution, Mrs Sheribu disclosed that, ” no one has contacted us. We are still relying on the last promises that they gave during their last visit to me”.

    Comenting on the sincerery of Federal Government on their efforts, Mrs Sheribu said, ” I have no reason to doubt the efforts of the Government in securing the freedom of my daughter. I just call on them to double their efforts to get my daughter release.

  • FG delegation visits Leah’s parent eight months after abduction

    A Federal Government delegation led by the Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed has visited Mrs Rebbeca Sharibu, mother of Leah Sharibu, the only Christian Dapchi girl still in the custody of the Boko Haram insurgents at Dapchi, Yobe State.

    Alhaji Lai Mohammed who was on Friday  accompanied on the journey by the minister of State Foreign Affairs, Hajiya Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim and the minister of Women Affairs, Aishatu Abubakar re-assured the traumatized mother of the Federal Government’s commitment to rescue her daughter.

    According to Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Federal Government has employed both formal and informal channels to ensure the safe release of Leah Sharibu and others in captivity of Boko Haram.

    “Government is doing everything possible to ensure that Leah Sharibu and the two aid workers are not hurt and they are returned safely to their families.

    Alhaji Lai Mohammed  however disclosed that  government can not disclose publicly some of the efforts being made to secure the release of Leah and others, stressing that  “we are appealing to them using both formal and informal channels to spare the lives of this innocent people.

    “Mr President is not leaving any stone unturned to ensure the safe return of Leah Sharibu and all others in captivity”, he said.

    He commended the military forces for making supreme sacrifices in the Defence of Nigeria and its citizens “you have done this country a lot of proud.”

    The minister described as impressive, the resilience of students of Government Technical Secondary School Dapchi, who surmounted all dangers and fears and  returned back to school to pursue education.

    Mrs Rebecca Sharibu, amidst tears called on the Federal Government to work hard and beat the dateline of the insurgents earlier issued to execute her daughter on the 15/10 2018.

    She also appreciated the Federal Government and the personal commitment of President Buhari to ensure her daughter’s safe release.

    “Save the family from this agony, you should not allow anything to happen to Leah please.

    “I want to plead with the federal government to please make a way for my daughter’s release, because I was told they kill them all by 15th of this month if federal government did not agree to their request.   Since I heard of this, I find it difficult to eat”, Rebecca appeal.

    Chairman Dapchi local government council,  Alhaji Zanna Abacha, commended the efforts of the Buhari administration in rescuing the Dapchi schoolgirls.

    “We are optimistic government would equally secure the safe release of Leah and to be reunited with her family and community.

    “We also appreciate the sense of belonging and assurance accorded to the community by the federal government”, he said.

    The Nation recalls that President Buhari had two week ago called Mrs Rebecca Sharibu and gave her assurance of the release of her daughter.

  • FG working hard to secure  Leah’s freedom, others – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said the Federal Government is working hard to secure the freedom of Leah Sheribu, the only Christian girl abducted by Boko Haram on February 19, 2018.
     The president also reassured that the  remaining Chibok Schoolgirls, and others people still in Boko Haram captivity will regain their freedom soonest.

    The president who spoke at the 2018 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) held at Monguno in the northern part of Borno State said his administration is also working  hard to bring to an end the farmers/ herders’ crisis  that have engulfed some states of the federation.

    President Buhari after inspecting the military equipment on display also  unveiled the first indigenous made mines resistance ambush protection vehicle.
     He described the choice of Borno for 2018 NADCEL as note-worthy as it will change the negative narrative of the Boko Haram crisis in the state.
    He said “I am delighted to be in your midst in this 2018 Nigerian Army Day Celebration. I am particularly elated for the choice of the venue, which is northern Borno. The choice of this venue is noteworthy of assuring all Nigerians that the negative narrative about Borno is now becoming a thing of the past. We are aware of the effects of Boko Haram in the livelihood, economic and security of people of Borno.

    “I want to use this opportunity to reassure Nigerians and the whole world that my administration is working hard to ensure the quick release of the remaining Dapchi girl, Leah Sharibu, and the remaining Chibok Schoolgirls from Boko Haram captivity. We are also working hard to bring to an end, the farmers/herders’ clash in the country.
    “I want to sincerely thank the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for the role played in degrading Boko Haram insurgents in Borno and Northeast, as well as containing the security challenges facing the nation,”  President Buhari said.

    The President  paid special  tributes to wounded and dead soldiers in the course of the Boko Haram crisis.

    The President added that  “This year’s Army Day Celebration, is in line with my administration’s three cardinal policies, which are security of the lives and property of the citizenry, growing the dwindling economy and the anticorruption crusade. Thus, three years ago, when I took over as commander-in-chief, I made the promise which has been achieved today.”
    Earlier in his address, the Chief of  Army staff, Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for personally  gracing the celebration.
    He attributed  the success of the troops against the insurgents  to the  support the president has given to the Army.
    The COAS added that this year’s Nigerian Army Day Celebration, is unique in the sense that it put in focus  the technological advancement of the Ngerian Army, in research and innovations, which resulted in the exhibition of various equipment manufactured by the Nigerian Army and indigenous firms.

    “The celebration also demonstrated the civil/military relation, which has won the hearts of civilian populace to the Nigerian Army. Following the degrading of Boko Haram terrorists, it is now time for our people to return home. And on this, the “Operation Last Hold” was established with three agenda, which involved total elimination of Boko Haram in northern Borno, resettlement of the Internally Displaced Persons back to their homes to begin their normal lives and providing their protection.

    “So far, 22,500 IDPs, mainly farmers, have returned to their ancestral homes in Gudunbali, the headquarters of Guzamala local government area, while 10,109 IDPs also returned to their communities in Kukawa local government area in the past one week,” Lt. Gen. Buratai said.

    He promised that the Nigerian Army’s will not rest on iys oars in the determination to consolidate on the successes recorded against the Boko Haram terrorists in the country.

  • Nigeria needs cleansing, says Anglican Bishop

    The Diocesan, Diocese of Ibadan, Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Joseph Akinfenwa has warned the Federal Government not to take the continued silence of the people over the worsening situation in the country for granted, saying such may be a sign of worse thing to come.

    The cleric who traced the history of a similar situation to Ghana noted that the revolution that it led to is also what is required in Nigeria if the country must come alive again.

    Bishop Akinfenwa spoke during a sermon at The Cathedral of St. James The Great, Oke-Bola, Ibadan during a special service to commemorate the beginning of the church.

    He was outspoken in condemning the various injustices and inequality across the land and the “uncaring way with which the case of security is being handled by the security agencies, which has led to increasing loss of lives across various parts of the country.”

    He said it is time for the government to begin to make amends by going from mere talking to acting so that the people would have good reason to believe in their government again.

    Read Also:Onaiyekan preaches against hate speeches, disunity in Nigeria

    He also lamented the situation where other religions are giving priority at the expense of Christianity that has contributed so much to the development of the country, pointing out the efforts of the early missionaries who facilitated education and healthcare that has led to the present level of development across the country.

    He said, “Look at the joblessness in the society, I pity our youths. Some of them had to go and be doing somethings they will not do ordinarily even with higher qualifications. Ordinary salaries are not forthcoming, what is our offence as citizens in this country?

    “But, they (the government) should take note; it has happened in other countries, it resulted into revolution. Let’s go back into history and see what happened in Ghana. The cleansing that happened in Ghana we need such cleansing in Nigeria and that is the solution. Let there be cleansing so that this Nigeria will come alive better.

    “What we are saying on this day of Pentecost is that it is time for the government to begin to make amends, cheating and marginalization is getting too much in this country. Wickedness is on the increase, people are dying, there is hunger in the land and the youths have no job to do, what is the government doing about it? We keep hearing of huge sum of money but it is not going down nor getting to the people. We need to know what government is doing about it, what is happening in the land is more than what happened in some other places that led to a crisis.

    “Let us remember what happened in Ghana when the people got tired, there was a revolution and they took the bull by the horn but we are praying and still praying so that God will touch the heart of our leaders and for them to do the needful.

    “When a government suddenly begins to show bias, it calls for suspicion. Bias in the sense that what is good for the goose is not good for the gander. It is such that, we expect that you treat all the religions, if not equally but identify with them and that was the reason I discussed the issues of school auditing forms going around that even Christianity is not among the schools.

    “Christian schools are not included and what has the Christian schools done wrong. If you go through history well, you will see that most of the things that we are enjoying today are by the grace of God and through Christian organisations and missionaries who came with hospitals, schools and this is what we are relishing in today and so why must you relegate that institution as if it is not there.

    “We are not asking that we are placed highest but at least we are asking that we be given our due recognition and to show that we appreciate all that this great institution has done in the development of our nation, it boils down into politics.

    “Look at the nation today, there is no balance there and when we come to look at the way the citizenry are being treated, people are suffering, people are dying daily. Within the last three years, calculate the number of souls that have been lost in this country whether through kidnapping, insurgency, persecution or whatever, it is saddening, we are moving down faster than we think and this is why we must hold the ears of our leaders to warn them to arrest the situation today.

    “That the citizenry are not talking but keeping quiet is dangerous, because things like this have happened before in other countries and it only resulted in revolution. So, we must arise. Look at the issue of Leah Sheribu that is still in captive, nobody is saying anything about it again. It is a shame. The situation is getting worse and worsening every day.”

  • Dapchi: ECWA declares 3-day fasting, prayer for Leah

    The ECWA Church has declared a three-day fasting and prayer for the release of Leah Sheribu, one of the girls abducted by insurgents at the Girls Technical School, Dapchi, Yobe State.

    Dr. Jeremiah Gado, ECWA President, announced the Church’s resolve to crave God’s intervention in Leah’s case at the end of a four-day General Church Council meeting in Jos,yesterday.

    “We want to fast and hold special prayer sessions for Leah Sheribu. All ECWA members should fast and pray for God’s intervention toward freeing Leah,” he said.

    Gado, who read the communique to newsmen, directed members to also use the period to pray for God’s intervention in the security and economic situations of the country.

    According to him, the fasting and prayer will start on April 27 and end on April 29, 2018.

    “The fasting and prayer will be rounded off with special Church services in all ECWA Church branches the world over, on April 29,” he said, and urged other Christians to join in the intercessory prayer.

    Read: Bring back Leah

    The Church tasked the Federal Government to extend the negotiation mechanism being applied to free the remaining Chibok girls, to free Leah, and called for stringent measures to end such abductions.

    It decried the worsening spate of killings and kidnappings across the country, and urged government to strive to end attacks on rural communities allegedly by herdsmen.

    It kicked against suggestions that the violence was a clash between herdsmen and farmers, and claimed that it was “an expansionist mission meant to takeover people’s ancestral land”.

    The Church endorsed the call by eminent Nigerians asking citizens to defend themselves, and challenged government to make that unnecessary by protecting Nigerians from such invaders.

    Fifteen -year-old Leah, who was abducted along with 115 other girls last month, is the only student still in the captors’ custody.

    She was not released along with others because she refused to denounce her Christian faith.

    The Federal Government has promised to ensure her release, with government officials stating that negotiations were ongoing toward securing her freedom.