Leah Sharibu was captured by Boko Haram three years ago on February 19th, 2018, and was denied her release due to her faith. The executive director of the International Committee on Nigeria (ICON), Kyle Abts, shared, “The latest verified information that she was still alive was earlier in the year 2020 when a released captive stated that she was still in captivity. There were rumors that she was forced to marry a Boko Haram leader and had given birth to a baby boy, but this was not verified by freed captive(s). Leah’s family are thankful that she was shown to be alive but want the government to work toward her release. The Nigerian government remains silent to the media and the family about any negotiations or details pertaining to Leah.” Learn about ICON’s work addressing the humanitarian crisis in Nigeria
For Over 3 Years, Leah Sharibu Has Been Held Captive—She Needs Our Help #SpeakUpForLeah
Abts explained that Leah’s parents “are concerned that their daughter has been in captivity for three years … and want the Nigerian government to perform and/or give them an update to anything that they are doing.”
Abts called for the international community not to relent in advocating for Leah’s release.
“We continue to need the international community to raise their voices either with their political representatives demanding that the Nigerian government take action to release Leah Sharibu (and other girls in captivity) and share the concern via social media.”
At the time of the Dapchi abduction three years ago, President Muhammadu Buhari deplored the incident as a “national disaster” and charged the military to go after the terrorists. When Leah failed to return with her mates, the government on various occasions promised that no efforts will be spared to rescue her.
So far, Leah’s advocates say, the result has been nothing short of a disaster.
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