OLUROTIMI AJIBOWO
Etched on the minds of millions around the world is the picture of a young girl, who, to many, has become a symbol of courage and resilience. Previously unknown and unheard of, her one little action in the unforgiving desert of Northern Nigeria, far away from cameras and klieg lights, particularly while faced with the possibility of death, has turned her into an icon and the world’s number one Prisoner of Conscience. Barely 14 at the time of her abduction and urged to convert to Islam or die, she chose her Christian faith and has continued to defiantly stand her ground. When her other abducted contemporaries were returned, she was the only one left behind.
This May, as she turned 16 and still remains in captivity, the world arose to celebrate her and her birthday “in absentia” and once again call for her release. From Lagos to Abuja, Jos and other cities including the United Kingdom and America, men and women arose to salute her courage and resilience. This occasion of her birthday marked her 4…th day in captivity.
As expected, it was a day of tributes and they flowed generously. The Convener of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, Oby Ezekwesili, lamented that despite assurances by President Muhammadu Buhari, Sharibu had yet to regain her freedom. “History will record that a young daughter of our country #LeahSharibu was left behind when her schoolmates were retrieved from terrorist abduction. She stood unwilling to negotiate her faith for freedom. She’s 16 today. Tragic,” she wrote on Twitter.
Barr. Emma Ogebe, an international human rights lawyer who was instrumental in resettling some of the Chibok girls in the United States and has been in regular contact with Leah’s parents, also had this to say; “This child Leah is for the rising and falling of many in this nation and indeed the world. In a country where politicians decamp from one party to the other for selfish reasons, it is awe-inspiring that she chose rather to be a prisoner for Christ than exchange her eternity in heaven for temporal liberty on earth. By so doing, she has touched the conscience of the world.”
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alh Atiku Abubakar, said he hoped steps would be taken towards the release of all youngsters in captivity, including Sharibu.
A former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, said Sharibu exemplified the qualities of a true Christian. “Today is Leah Sharibu’s birthday. She has been held captive by Boko Haram for over 400 days now simply because she refused to renounce her Christian faith. She is a reference point for courage, strength and faith and a source of inspiration and pride for every believer,” he said.
The last reliable information about Leah was garnered from another young girl, called Ruth (not her real name) who escaped from Boko Haram captivity and was interviewed by Olufemi Atoyebi and Hindi Livinus. Ruth had an encounter with Leah Sharibu while they were both in captivity in the same camp. According to Ruth, Leah Sharibu still refused to convert to Islam in the camp. “There is a small wall separating us; so, we interacted well but when a ‘soldier’ was approaching, our interaction would be disrupted. She told us to continue praying and she led us in prayers. She told us that she and others were kidnapped from Dapchi in Yobe State.”
“Since she refused to convert, the soldiers told us that she was an infidel and that she should not be allowed to cook for us. Leah never attended the Islamic lesson. I am sure she is alive because I left her there. Leah is a strong believer in her faith with strong character also. Whenever any of us was ill, she would pray for us and we would be alright.
“After I had the unpleasant child delivery, I was always having stomach pain. One day, Leah told me to have the belief that God could heal me. She laid her hand on my stomach and prayed for me. She was like a prophetess in captivity. She prays and heals people. She kept preaching and telling us that there is a supreme God that watches over us. Every day, we heard her pray.” She also said Leah was not married to a fighter.
Activities lined up to mark her birthday included programmes at the National Christian Centre (CAN Headquarters) in Abuja, ECWA Headquarters Church, Jos, Realm of Glory Headquarters Church in Lagos, Unity Chapel in Yola, Adamawa State. Protests were also made at the Nigerian High Commission office on Northumberland Avenue, London while the AUP and the US Nigeria Law Group gathered to cut her birthday cake at Hart Senate Building on Capitol Hill.
A popular Nigerian gospel singer, Penam Percy Paul, composed a special song to commemorate Sharibu’s birthday, as he lauded her refusal to deny Jesus Christ. The music video had been shared by many social media users as of Tuesday when it was released on the Internet. Pastor Abraham Aiyedogbon coordinated the Lagos event while groups also gathered at the Unity Fountain, Abuja.
A coalition of Christians gathered at the headquarters of Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Jos to celebrate the birthday of Leah. The Christian groups included Leah Sharibu Foundation, Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment (CWEENS), Catalyst for Peace and Justice (CPJ) and Param-Mallam Foundation. They took to the streets of Jos to protest the inability of the Federal Government to secure the release of Leah. The coalition took their protest to the Plateau State House of Assembly where they submitted a letter of protest to Speaker Joshua Madaki.
One of the frontrunners of the protest, Rev. Gideon Para-Mallam, said, “Leah Sharibu is an innocent teenager. To be kidnapped and kept in captivity for nearly one and a half years now on account of her refusal to deny Jesus, is an act of brutal injustice. Those who see advocacy for Leah’s freedom as politics are merchants in political spin and manipulations. Government has been reacting rather than provide leadership on this matter. And if the Chief of Army Staff was quoted to have said that Boko Haram has been defeated, the big question remains: “Where is Leah Sharibu?””
The occasion was characterised by prayers for Leah, her parents, churches across Nigeria and for God’s intervention in Nigeria’s current situation. Speaking during the protest, Paul Abache from Leah Sharibu Foundation said: “On February 19, 2015, some gunmen stormed Dapchi village and took away some girls. Some were released but Leah was not, just for her refusal to renounce her religion.
“Today marks exactly 16 years of Leah Sharibu’s birthday and this is the second time we are celebrating it while she is in the hands of Boko Haram. As a Christian, Leah has become a role model, a heroine. We need to celebrate her, whether she is alive or not. But we know she is alive because her God in heaven has neither forsaken her nor forgotten her. We call on the world to join us in celebrating Leah Sharibu for her bravery, her unshakable faith in Jesus Christ and for standing as a symbol of Christianity.”
Nigerians wait eagerly to receive the good news of her freedom even though, her whereabouts and safety are yet unknown. “The mother of Leah Sharibu and the entire family are still waiting. The wait is getting longer. Nigerian authorities can put a smile on the face of her mother and her family by reuniting her with them,” Amnesty International also wrote on Twitter.
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