Jesusegun Alagbe and Justin Tyopuusu
The father of Leah, the Dapchi Christian girl still being held by Boko Haram, Mr. Nathan Sharibu, on Friday lamented the continued stay of his daughter in the terrorists’ captivity, saying the Federal Government had abandoned the family to their fate.
Narrating the psychological trauma his wife, Rebecca, is passing through over their daughter’s continued abduction, Sharibu said no government official had reached out to them with information about Leah.
He said, “We have been abandoned. Nobody in government is telling us what is happening; we don’t know of any efforts being made for Leah’s release.
“It’s only our Christian and Muslim brothers living around us who have been comforting us over the situation that we found ourselves. There is no information from the federal or state government regarding Leah’s release.
“We are, however, hopeful that she will be released soon by the grace of God. We believe in God and Leah too is a firm believer in God and we know He will not abandon her.”
Sharibu told Saturday PUNCH that despite all, he was very happy that Leah, who will turn 15 in June, didn’t renounce her faith, adding, “We are all proud of her. She did the right thing, a wonderful thing. We gave her sound Christian teaching and that is why her faith cannot be changed so easily.”
Sharibu urged President Muhammadu Buhari to facilitate the quick release of his daughter and enjoined Nigerians, especially the Christian community, to heed the call of the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Revd. Samson Ayokunle, to pray for Leah’s release during the Easter period.
Meanwhile, lending his voice to calls for Leah’s release, the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, has asked Nigerians, particularly the Christian faithful, to use the Easter period to pray for her safe return.
The governor, in a statement conveying his Easter message to Nigerians, also asked Christians to pray for the release of other Chibok girls still in Boko Haram captivity.
In the statement issued by the governor’s Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Bolaji Tunji, Ajimobi also called for prayers for the restoration of peace in all the trouble spots across the country, particularly the North-East.
The governor also appealed to the masterminds of terrorism, militancy, kidnappings and other tension-creating acts to embrace amnesty.
He said, “There is no religion that is in support of taking people’s lives under whatever guise. We should all be promoting activities that will enhance our peaceful coexistence and unity as a people.”
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