•Leah Sharibu
By Friday Olokor
Mrs. Rebecca Sharibu has sent a Christmas message to her daughter, Leah, held in captivity by Boko Haram, but however expressed unhappiness that she was not with the family to celebrate the Yuletide.
According to her, the family were in great pains as her daughter was not available to observer the Christmas celebration.
Mrs. Rebecca Sharibu in a short video released to THE PUNCH by 12:00 am on Wednesday morning through the Leah Foundation, pleaded with those who had been holding her captive to please pity the family and grant her freedom.
The one minute 25 seconds video was sent to THE PUNCH by a family friend and senior lecturer in the Department of Political Science, University of Jos, Dr. Gloria Samdi Puldu.
Rebecca Sharibu said, “I am the mother of Leah Sharibu who was abducted since February 19, 2018. We are always praying for you wherever you are that God will bring you back. We are pleading with the government to put more effort so that Leah will be released.
“We are wishing you Merry Christmas wherever you are. We are not happy that you are not with us this Christmas and we pray God set you free and bring you back to us. We are pleading with those who are holding you captive to please pity us and release you. We are in great pains, thank you.”
Leah Sharibu was one of the 110 female students of Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, who had been held in captivity since February 19, 2018 by Boko Haram terrorists on account of her Christian faith.
The family of Leah Sharibu had resorted to prayers over the demand of N100 billion ransom by the Boko Haram insurgents from the Federal Government.
Criticisms have continued to trail the perceived lukewarm attitude of the government towards the plight of Leah Sharibu and other Boko Haram captives.
A former Executive Secretary, Nigeria National Missions Movement, Rev. Gideon Para-Mallam, had expressed concern over the lukewarm attitude of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), towards the parents of Leah Sharibu.
According to him, Leah’s father, Nathan Sharibu had been worried that apart from the fact that he “has not heard a single word about his daughter’s release beyond the promises”, he has not received any phone call or updates from President Buhari.
Para-Mallam who is a close friend of the Sharibu family and founder, Gideon and Funmi Para-Mallam Peace Foundation, had also regretted that the kidnap of Leah Sharibu had been politicised by both government and certain groups. (Punch)
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