By Pascal Oparada
Social Media/Tech Reporter
It is exactly one year today since schoolgirls in Dapchi town of Yobe State, Nigeria were abducted by Boko Haram terrorists loyal to Islamic State, including Leah Sharibu.
Leah was abducted alongside 111 other girls who were later released after intense negotiations with the Nigerian government.
According to her fellow abductees, Leah was denied freedom because she refused to recant her Christian faith.
Rights groups including the #BringBackOurGirls campaigners have called for her release on the day she was abducted.
“A Plea, A Cry… Leah Sharibu was kidnapped along with other girls from their school in Dapchi on February 19, 2018. Today she is one year in captivity. Why was #LeahSharibu left behind? Why is Nigeria & her Government silent on this?” BBOG wrote on their Twitter page.
On February 10, Leah Sharibu’s mother addressed the media and asked the government not to forget her in captivity.
She begged the government not to forget their promise of freeing her from the terrorists.
The Secretary of Dapchi Abducted Girls Parents Association, Alhaji Kachalla Bukar, expressed dismay over the continuing captivity of Leah, saying that a special prayer would be conducted tomorrow for her safety and release from captivity.
“In order to commemorate the abduction and release of our daughters, we have organized a fasting and prayer today Monday and will hold a rally tomorrow Tuesday to commemorate the incident.”
“This fasting and prayer will be observed by both Muslims and Christians in the community and will hold prayers at Mr Nathaniel Sharibu’s house to urge the federal government to negotiate for the immediate release of Leah who is still in captivity,” he said.