Three key evangelical organisations have issued a joint call for the Nigerian Government and international community to increase efforts to free schoolgirl Leah Sharibu, among more than 100 students abducted from a high school in the country’s north-east in February.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the World Evangelical Alliance, Association of Evangelicals in Africa and Nigerian Evangelical Fellowship called for prayer for the Christian girl being held hostage by terror group Boko Haram and for efforts to free her to be increased.
Leah Sharibu
While five of the girls died, most of those abducted from the school were released in March following negotiations with the Nigerian Government. Sharibu remains the only girl still in captivity reportedly because she refused to renounce her Christian faith and convert to Islam.
In a statement, Bishop Efraim Tendero, secretary general of the WEA, called for prayer for Sharibu and Alice Ngaddah, a Christian woman who works with the International Committee of the Red Cross and who is also being held by the group.
“Leah is a 15-year old girl who could have saved her life by converting to Islam, but chose not to renounce her faith in Jesus Christ,” he said. “Instead – and at the expense of her freedom – she remained strong in her faith and her relationship with Jesus, which serves as an inspiration and role model for all of us. Please join us in prayer for Leah and Alice that they will gain strength, comfort and assurance that they are in the good hands of our God.”
Bishop Tendero said that the evangelical organisations condemned the “evil practices of kidnapping innocent girls and humanitarian aid workers, forceful conversion to the faith of captors and forcing them into slavery, and the ruthless killing of hostages”.
“On behalf of our world body we offer our prayers and heart-felt condolences to the families of those who have been killed. And today, we specifically appeal for the immediate release of Leah and Alice that they would be free to live out their lives as they choose.”
Rev Gideon Para-Mallam, who is active locally with the Nigeria Evangelical Fellowship and is a close friend of Sharibu’s family, said the fact Leah and Alice were left alive is “something to thank God for”.
“It also means in some way that Boko Haram is listening and this is where the appeals and advocacy at the local and global levels must continue to the Nigerian Government, the African Union, European Union and United Nations to do all they can to secure the release of Leah and other captives. Other international bodies need to also support the efforts of the Nigerian Government. Boko Haram’s intention to keep Leah as their slave for life is disturbing and the global community must jointly act to ensure this does not stand.”
He said he hoped that Sharibu’s release would also lead to the release of other captives: “Christians and Muslims alike”.
