A Christian Civil Society Organisation, Catalyst for Global Peace and Social Justice Initiative (CPJ), in conjunction with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has asked the Nigerian government to ensure the release of abducted Dapchi school girl, Leah Sharibu, before October 15.
The CPJ made the demand for Leah’s release during a press briefing on Tuesday.
LagosTimes recalls that Sharibu is one of the 110 students abducted from Government Girls Technical College in Dapchi, Yobe state by the Al Barnawi faction of the Boko Haram insurgent group on February 19, 2018.
The CPJ convener, Abraham Aiyedogbon stated that the insurgent group, after failing to release Sharibu along with her schoolmates who were kidnapped, released a recent video where they killed another abducted woman and threatened to harm Sharibu.
“It is bad enough that following the abduction of over 200 Chibok girls in 2014, the Buhari administration would allow a recurrence of that incident with the February 2018 kidnapping of Dapchi girls.
“It is much worse that Leah was held back by her abductors on account of her heroic refusal to renounce her Christian faith when government negotiated the release of the Dapchi girls.
“It is inexcusable that some eight months after her abduction, the Federal Government has not been able to secure Leah Sharibu’s release. There is ample time for any serious government, between now and October 15 to find a way to secure the release of these women”, he said.
A partner of the CPJ, Fredrick Adetiba also said the group would ensure ”sustained advocacies, such that would compel responses from government for the release of Ms Sharibu, the Red Cross officials and the remaining 112 Chibok girls still held by the Boko haram”.
“We must sustain the engagement for the response of government on the release of Leah Sharibu. When groups begin advocacy, they believe you will be tired in not more than two weeks. But we will not relent. Freedom for Leah Sharibu will happen if we join our forces together”, he said.
Meanwhile, a prayer session and procession was conducted for the safe release of all the abductees.