Exactly one year ago, Leah
Sharibu, the only Christian among the 112 female students kidnapped by Boko
Haram insurgents in Yobe clocked 15 then – her first birthday since being
frisked away. There were no cakes nor birthday songs. Just horror.
Another May 14 is here and that
dark moment is on repeat. This time, Sharibu is 16 and, just like in 2018, she
won’t be celebrating that milestone as a free girl. There is not even the
luxury of spending time with family and friends — the least she could ask for.
Sharibu was abducted alongside
some other girls from Girls Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe state, on February
19, 2018. All the girls who were captured were subsequently released, except
five who reportedly died in detention, but Sharibu was held back for “refusing
to renounce her faith”.
Tuesday makes it a year and three
months after her kidnap; a year and three months of living in fear, sorrow and
anguish. She is somewhere enveloped in fear, in the company of the same persons
that took her away from her friends and family; from every good thing.
In August last year, a recording of Sharibu begging the president to come to her rescue and
reunite her with her family was obtained
She had said: “I am Leah Sharibu,
the girl that was abducted in GGSS Dapchi. I am calling on the government and
people of goodwill to intervene to get me out of my current situation.
“I also plead to the members of
the public to help my mother, my father, my younger brother and relatives.
Kindly help me out of my predicament. I am begging you to treat me with
compassion, I am calling on the government, particularly, the president to pity
me and get me out of this serious situation. Thank you.”
Shortly after the other girls
were released, President Muhammadu Buhari had promised his government would not
abandon her.
“The lone Dapchi girl, Leah, will
not be abandoned … President Buhari assures the Sharibu family that he will
continue to do all he can to ensure that they also have cause to rejoice with
their daughter soon,” a statement from Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, had
read.
Since then, Buhari has continued
to restate his commitment in bringing her home.
After alleged neglect from
government officials, the president
called Leah’s mother in October last year and promised her the daughter
would return peacefully.
But the waiting game continues.
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