Leah Sharibu’s Mother Marks Daughter’s 22nd Birthday With Hope Amid Seven Years In Boko Haram Captivity.
Mrs. Rebecca Sharibu, mother of Leah Sharibu, the Christian schoolgirl kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2018, has commemorated her daughter’s 22nd birthday with a heartfelt message of sorrow, faith, and unwavering hope. The occasion also marks a sombre milestone: Leah’s seventh year in captivity, a period that has tested the resilience of her family and drawn global attention to her plight.
Leah, then aged 14, was among 110 schoolgirls abducted from the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College in Dapchi, Yobe State, on 19 February 2018, by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a faction of Boko Haram. While most of her classmates were released following negotiations with the Nigerian government, Leah was held back, reportedly for refusing to renounce her Christian faith and convert to Islam. Her steadfast courage has made her a symbol of religious freedom, inspiring campaigns worldwide.
In a poignant video shared on Thursday by Open Doors UK, a Christian advocacy group, Mrs. Sharibu spoke of the profound pain of being separated from her daughter for over seven years. “I can’t describe the depth of my sorrow,” she said in Hausa, her voice trembling. “Each passing year has been like a blade to the heart. I remember the laughter in our home, how Leah would sing and study hard. Now, there’s only silence.” Yet, her faith remains unshaken: “I still believe God can bring her back. I have not given up. I will never give up.”
Mrs. Sharibu urged the global community, the Nigerian government, and people of faith to keep Leah and others in captivity in their prayers. “I am pleading with you, brothers and sisters in Christ, to continue praying for Leah and all those in captivity to be released,” she said, citing the release of another captive, Alice, as a source of hope. “Just like Alice, who was freed after seven years, I believe one day Leah will come back.”
The Nigerian government has faced criticism for its handling of Leah’s case. Reverend Dr. Gideon Para-Mallam, a pastor close to the Sharibu family, previously decried the “unfathomable silence” from authorities, questioning whether the nation itself is in captivity. Despite former President Muhammadu Buhari’s assurances to Mrs. Sharibu in October 2018, no significant progress has been reported.
Unverified reports, including 2023 claims that Leah had given birth and remarried an ISWAP commander, have been dismissed by her parents as demoralising. The Leah Foundation has challenged such reports, asking, “If they have intelligence on Leah’s whereabouts, where are the Nigerian armed forces?”
As Leah’s 22nd birthday passes, her mother’s plea underscores a broader call for justice. Mrs. Sharibu’s faith, mirrored by Leah’s courage, continues to inspire advocates. Open Doors UK and others have renewed campaigns, urging supporters to pray and press for action. “Leah’s courage is a beacon of hope,” said Rev. Para-Mallam, “illuminating the path towards religious freedom and human rights.”
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) and other groups have called on governments to raise Leah’s case with Nigerian authorities and assist in countering Boko Haram. For Mrs. Sharibu, every birthday is a vigil for the day her daughter returns home.
