Some Christians under the aegis of the Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria (CSW-N), on Tuesday, staged a peaceful protest demanding the immediate release of Leah Sharibu as she marks her 21st birthday in captivity.
Sharibu was one of the 110 female students of the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, who were abducted on February 19, 2018, by Boko Haram terrorists.
She was 15 at the time of her abduction.
While the girls were later released by the Boko Haram terrorists, Sharibu who refused to be converted to Islam was held captive by the insurgents.
The protest was held at the ECWA Good News Church, Narayi High Cost, Kaduna.
The protesters called on both the federal and state governments to address security challenges that have led to the abduction of many school children and other Nigerians some of who are in captivity.
The protesters carried placards while chanting solidarity songs as they marched in procession around the church premises.
Some of the placards carried inscriptions such as “Free Leah Sharibu and other abducted girls now,” “Remember Gonin-Gora 16 kidnapped victims,” “Government secure our community,” and “Rescue the remaining Chibok girls now” as well as “Education is not a crime,” among others.
Speaking shortly after the peaceful procession, the Chief Executive Officer of the Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria ( CSW-N), Rev. Yunusa Nmadu said it was unfortunate that 10 years after the incident, Sharibu is still in captivity.
He said the protest was organised to commemorate the 21st birthday of Sharibu while in captivity by the dreaded Boko Haram sect.
He called on President Bola Tinubu to do the needful in rescuing Sharibu and other abducted schoolgirls languishing in terrorist dens across the north.
He said it is unacceptable that Nigerians are no longer safe in their homes as they are being abducted willingly by bandits from their homes.
Nmadu said, “When it started in Chibok, we thought that was the end, but it keeps reoccurring every now, and then 10 years after, many schoolgirls are still in captivity and this morning.
“We have all come out to commemorate the 21st birth of Leah Sharibu, who has become the face of this campaign and many other campaigns for safe schoolchildren.
“We therefore want to wish her a happy birthday even in captivity.
“But then, we also want to entreat the government that they must do the needful. Nigeria is ebbing out. Nigeria is dying. We are almost surrendering to insecurity and bandits, kidnappers, and all sorts of evil people in our land. It is time to stop.
“Our children must go to school. We must stay safe in our homes. Our homes are no longer safe. Our roads are no longer safe. The government must come to terms with what is happening in the country and they must save the lives of the people.
“We voted you in for security, but what we get is insecurity. Therefore, we asked, and we spoke this time to the President of the country, Bola Tinubu.
“Please, up your game, and safe lives. People are dying in their hundreds every day. This is unacceptable to us as citizens of this country. Security is our right.
“Therefore, we hope that the government will listen and do the needful. Safe our schools. Safe our girls. It is not a crime to go to school because they have chosen to go to school. It is the responsibility of the government to secure our schools and protect the lives and property of the citizens of this country.”
Also speaking , the Secretary of the Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rev. Emmanuel Okunlola appealed to the government to protect Nigerians from criminal elements terrorising the country.
Okunlola called on the Nigerian government to rise up and expedite actions to rescue Leah Sharibu and other schoolchildren.
He said, “Nigeria must be secured. It is the primary responsibility of the government to protect lives and property.
“Therefore, we called on all state government, the federal government, and the National Security Adviser to rise to the occasion, and expedite action on the release of our abducted girls. This is the only thing that will make Nigeria the giant brother of Africa, not in an unsafe environment or unsecured environment.
Let the government do the needful so that we can be peaceful in Nigeria.”
