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Leah Sharibu Marks 16th Birthday, 449 Days In Boko Haram Captivity
Leah Sharibu, the Dapchi School girl held back by Boko Haram, on account of her Christian faith is marking her 16th birthday in the captivity of the terrorist group on Tuesday, May 14, 2019.
She was captured alongside 112 other students of the Government Girls Science and Technical Secondary School, Dapchi, Yobe State on February 19, 2018.
However, following negotiations between the Federal Government and the group she was held back because she refused to renounce her Christian faith, a development that has drawn flaks from across the world.
She has so far spent 449 days in the captivity of the Boko Haram group despite assurances by the Federal Government that efforts to set her free were apace.
To mark her birthday and draw consciousness to her situation, a number of activities are being held across the world. Among centres of activities are Abuja, Jos, Lagos, Washington D.C. and London.
Among the four groups holding joint activities to commemorate the sad episode are Leah Sharibu Foundation; Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigeria Society (CWEENS); Catalyst For Peace and Justice and The Para –Mallam Peace Foundation.
A joint statement issued by them on the sad milestone read thus: “There will be a prayer session in Abuja, National Christian Centre, CAN Headquarters, Abuja and Unity Fountain Park from 9am to noon on Tuesday, May 14. Another event holds same day at ECWA Headquarter Church in Jos from noon -3:00p.m.
In Lagos, there will be service in her honour at Realm of Glory Church, Off Dibor Street, Okota-Isolo, Lagos from 10.30am-noon.
“There will be peaceful marches in these cities and brief rallies with placards reading: ‘Not Forsaken, Not Forgotten,’ ‘Free Leah,’ ‘Happy Birthday Leah,’ ‘Keep Our Schools Safe’…
“We urge people to turn out and provide support and solidarity…” the statement read.
The organisers of the event in London in a statement said:
“Please join us to pray and protest from 1-1: 30 pm, the address is: 9 Northumberland Ave, Westminster, London WC2N 5BX. You can still speak up for Leah now.”
A similar event is also being organized for her at the U.S. Senate Building in Washington D.C.
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