Rebecca Sharibu, mother of Leah Sharibu, the Christian schoolgirl abducted by Boko Haram in 2018, has marked her daughter’s 22nd birthday, which also signifies her seventh in captivity.
Leah was one of the 110 students kidnapped from the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College in Dapchi, Yobe State, on February 19, 2018.
While most of the girls were later released following negotiations, Leah was reportedly held back after she refused to renounce her Christian faith.
In a video message shared on Thursday by Open Doors UK, Mrs Sharibu expressed pain over the prolonged absence of her daughter and described the last seven years as emotionally draining.
She said, “It has been over seven years since Leah was taken. The pain of her continued absence is deeply distressing.”
Despite the heartache, Mrs Sharibu said her faith remains firm and that she still believes in God’s power to bring her daughter back home.
She called on Nigerians and the international community to keep praying and advocating for her daughter and others who are being held for their religious beliefs.
“I urge all who believe in justice and in the power of prayer to remember not only my daughter but others who remain in captivity for their religious beliefs,” she said.
Leah, who turned 22 on May 14, was only 14 years old at the time of her abduction.
Her continued captivity has sparked outrage and concern from human rights organisations, Christian bodies and international groups. Despite repeated calls for her release, there has been no confirmed update on her whereabouts or condition.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
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