[Mhiz Rebecca]

Leah Sharibu, the only Christian among the
abducted 119 students of Government Girls
Secondary School, Dapchi, Yobe state, has asked
President Muhammadu Buhari to save her from
captivity.
As a “proof of life” amidst speculations on her fate,
TheCable has exclusively obtained her latest picture
as well as the audio of her plea to Buhari.
Leah, who was kidnapped in February, also appealed
that her family members be assisted.
All the girls who were captured were subsequently
released, except five who reportedly died in
detention, but Sharibu was held back for “refusing to
renounce her faith”.
The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a
breakaway faction of Boko Haram, has kept her in
captivity for seven months, sparking public outrage .
The federal government had said it was making
efforts to secure her release .
Clad in hijab, sewn from a light brown material and
seated alone on a mat patterned in pink, Sharibu
spoke with measured calmness.
She spoke in Hausa in a 35 seconds audio,
reproduced here:
“I am Leah Sharibu, the girl that was abducted in
GGSS Dapchi. I am calling on the government and
people of goodwill to intervene to get me out of my
current situation,” she said.
“I also plead to the members of the public to help
my mother, my father, my younger brother and
relatives. Kindly help me out of my predicament. I
am begging you to treat me with compassion, I am
calling on the government, particularly, the president
to pity me and get me out of this serious situation.
Thank you.”
Sources told TheCable that the audio as well as
pictures were part of the proof of life requirement in
a possible renewed negotiation efforts between the
government and ISWAP members.
The release of Sharibu’s school mates on March 21,
2018 reportedly followed what sources said had to
do with the intervention of IS in Iraq and Syria.
Insurgent leaders were said to have upbraided
ISWAP for abducting Muslim schoolgirls.
Thereafter, according to our sources, the 110 Muslim
schoolgirls were brought back under an elaborate
ceremony that had the community cheering.
Lai Mohammed, minister of information, and Lawal
Daura, the sacked director-general of the Department
of State Services (DSS), had said the release was
part of a wider ceasefire talks with the insurgents.
Recently, the release of the girls sparked a
controversy when the UN said a heavy ransom was
paid but Mohammed insisted that no dime was given
to the insurgents in exchange for the release of the
girls.