By Prosper Mene
Seven years after her abduction by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an offshoot of Boko Haram, Leah Sharibu remains in captivity, prompting renewed calls for her release. On May 14, 2025, as Leah marked her 22nd birthday, her eighth in captivity, a Nigerian advocacy group urged President Bola Tinubu and the National Security Adviser to prioritize her freedom, labeling her prolonged ordeal a “sad development.”
Leah, abducted at 14 from her school in Dapchi, Yobe State, in February 2018, was one of 110 schoolgirls kidnapped by ISWAP. While most of her peers were released, Leah, the only Christian among them, was held back after refusing to renounce her faith. Reports indicate she has been subjected to enslavement and, according to some sources, forcibly married to an ISWAP commander. The Nigerian government has confirmed she is alive, yet her continued captivity has drawn widespread concern.
“Leah has spent over 2,649 days away from her family, all because she held firm to her beliefs,” EiE Nigeria posted on X, demanding action. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom also highlighted her plight, with Commissioner Maureen Ferguson noting, “Her family, friends, and community long for her return.”
Critics argue the government’s response has been inadequate, with the advocacy group pressing Tinubu to leverage intelligence and diplomatic channels to secure Leah’s release. The call comes amid broader concerns about Nigeria’s handling of insurgent abductions, with Leah’s case citing the intersection of religious persecution and security challenges.
Leah’s story is a stark reminder of the human cost of insurgency and the need for resolute action to bring her home.
