#freeleah campaign

It is now about 8 months since Leah Sharibu was taken into captivity by the breakaway faction of Boko Haram who now trades as Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Leah and her 118 schoolmates were abducted from their school, Government Girls Secondary School, GGSS, Dapchi, Yobe State, on February 19.

Few days later, over 100 of them were set free after negotiations were made with the terrorists. Five were reported to have died in captivity, leaving Leah the only girl abducted from Dapchi still languishing in the terrorist den.

Reports have it that the terrorists “regretted” abducting the schoolgirls because they were Muslims. If this report could be relied upon, this could inform the reason why Leah was not part of the consideration during the negotiation. It has been said that the terrorists refused to free Leah because she refused to denounce here Christian faith. It is unfortunate and quite insensitive on the part of the government to leave out Leah from consideration during the negotiation.

On Monday, August 27, The Cable published audio of Leah appealing to President Buhari as well as Nigerians to free her. Both the federal government and Leah’s parents have acknowledged the message was from Leah – and it was apparently released by the group holding her hostage to pressure the government to begin negotiations for her release.

Worryingly however, and perceiving the government’s unwillingness to negotiate her release, her captors recently issued strong threat to kill her if ransom is not paid to secure her release. This must not be allowed to happen. We join the countless voices, groups and organisations within and outside Nigeria campaigning for her release to urge the Nigerian government to wake up to its responsibility and ensure that Leah is released unhurt from the clutches of the terrorists.

This call has become more urgent considering a UN report that said that the Nigerian government paid “huge ransom” for the release of the kidnapped Dapchi school girls in February. Although the government tried to deny the report, virtually everyone with knowledge of Boko Haram activities and the negotiations that went into the release of some of the Chibok and later Dapchi girls know that the Nigerian government has been paying ransoms to Boko Haram – and it is indeed these ransom payments that is fuelling further kidnaps by the sect and largely funding the activities of the terrorist sect.

What is good for the goose is also good for the gander. Since the government had whetted the appetite of the terrorists by paying them ransom to release some of the abducted girls, it must do all within its power to ensure that all the girls, and particularly, Leah, who was left behind on account of her religion, is released and reunited with her family. Thankfully, her abductors are making demands and are willing to talk.

The presidency was on record pledging that president Buhari will ensure that “the lone girl is not abandoned” and promised to bring her safely back home to her parents as he has done for the other girls. It is eight months now and he and the government he leads have gone silent on the girl. That must not be allowed to happen. Mr President must get it clear: Leah Sharibu cannot remain in captivity while he goes about campaigning for people’s votes. He promised to get her out and he must be held to that promise until it is fulfilled.

What we have seen over the last weeks is that her release is very possible and all it takes is a firm commitment on the part of the president and his team to secure her release. No explanations will be accepted for the government’s failure to get her released.

As always, we commend the efforts of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group, civil society, religious group, the media, as well as concerned Nigerians who have continued to put her issue and those of the other abducted Chibok girls in the front burner and for always demanding for their release. We particularly appreciate the concern of Thomas Brake, a British MP, who held a one man rally outside the Nigerian High Commission in London demanding her release. We must not be tired; we must continue to pile the pressure on government and make them uncomfortable until Leah regains her freedom.