By Rafiu Kuteyi
Leah Sharibu’s mother woke up with a start that morning. She had had a bad dream. Waking up with beads of sweat on her brow, she was beside herself with worry wondering what was about to happen. She was apparently
agitated, but she could not place the reason for her foreboding mood. In the throes of her disquiet, she woke up her husband and narrated the dream she just had to him.
Leah’s father, in his characteristic manner, listened attentively to her narration of her dream. When she finished, he allayed her fears, asking her to take her concerns to the Lord in prayers. Nathan and his family are known to be very strong adherents of the Christian faith in their neighborhood and beyond. Christian tenets and values are inculcated in his family members, including Leah, their daughter. But neither he nor his wife knew that morning would be the last time they would see Leah in person to date.
Leah, a young Nigerian schoolgirl who bravely refused to renounce her Christian faith and who, as a result of her defiance, has remained in Boko Haram captivity since 2018, was born on the 14th day of May, 2003, to the Sharibu family in Dapchi town, Yobe State, in the Northeast region of Nigeria. Her parents, Nathan and Rebecca Sharibu, hoping against hope, still long for the return of their beloved daughter one of these days and in the not-too-distant future.
It has been six long years since a group of Boko Haram terrorists attacked the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College in Dapchi, Yobe State, where Leah was a student, and kidnapped 110 schoolgirls in broad daylight. In fact, a lot has changed since the unfortunate incident except that one, out of the abducted girls who were the innocent victims, Leah Sharibu, remains in captivity with her abductors because she refused to renounce her abiding faith in Christ.
Since that black day in the history of Nigeria, no tangible information has been provided concerning her welfare and well-being, either from the camp of her abductors or from the Nigerian Government, except for some rumours that cannot be verified.
At the time of the abduction six years ago, former President Muhammadu Buhari expressed strong disapproval of the incident, referring to it as a “national disaster,” and charged the military to go after the terrorists by all means and at all costs.
When the other girls were released to their parents with fanfare some days later and Leah was conspicuously missing from the group, the government promised that no efforts would be spared to rescue her. Six years after the tragic incident, Leah remains in captivity to the dismay of the entire world.
Leah opted for her faith in God without being intimidated by the consequences of her decision. I can imagine Leah’s captors asking her the life-threatening question, “Your faith or your life?” to which she boldly replies,“My faith.” She made this difficult choice while fully aware of the untold hardships that she would have to bear for her decision. Leah’s decision might have put her at disadvantage here on earth, but it will certainly not be the same in heaven.
Let us put ourselves in Leah’s shoes and think about what she could be going through in captivity even now. The maltreatment she could be suffering at the hands of her captors, the deprivation of most of the things she needs and is used to for daily life and the pain of being separated from her loved one. Think about her sorrow, her tears and her longing to return to her normal life.
Can any of us truly feel what she might be experiencing in the hands of her abductors? And again, the possible feelings of disappointment for being forsaken by those in authority who should be responsible for her security? But certainly, God would not forsake Leah.
For God and all the angels in heaven are too sensitive and caring to forget or abandon someone who has demonstrated such exceptional faith and has become the Christian heroine of our time. Leah may be passing through a very dark tunnel right now but she will certainly find light at the end of it.
The world must rally for Leah because we cannot afford to overlook the bravery and exceptional faith in God shown by this young girl. Therefore, the need for us to rise above hopelessness and discouragements and stay focused on our desire to see Leah come out of captivity cannot be over-emphasized. This is one of the primary reasons for this write up. I would like to appeal to Leah’s parents, her family members, teachers, guardians, friends, Christian brethren, the Christian religious bodies, advocacy groups and everyone who has been agitating for this cause to stay strong, focused and united as this is the only way we can achieve the goal.
Let us speak in one language and with one voice, realizing that neither divisions nor accusations and
counter-accusations will
make us achieve our purpose on this matter. We must stop trading blame and come together in unity as this is the best way for us to overcome the common enemy that has been holding Leah in captivity for six years.
We all have a role to play in Leah’s matter and God expects that we play our individual roles diligently. Therefore, I plead with every one of us to quickly arise from the place of
disillusionment on this issue. Let us stand up and be strengthened. Then we can move together with a single mind and purpose. With God on our side, it is impossible for us to fail concerning our call for Leah’s freedom.
The efforts made so far by the authorities to secure Leah’s release from captivity are very much appreciated. However, the Nigerian government needs to demonstrate more commitment to Leah’s freedom. Please stay relentless in your promise to Leah’s parents and to the world that you would do everything possible for Leah’s safe return, which I believe can be achieved with enough willpower.
*Kuteyi, an author, writes from Lagos.