Leah Sharibu, the Christian Dapchi Secondary School girl who was held by the Boko Haram terrorists for not renouncing her Christian faith, is still alive, the Presidency has said.
YaahooJournalist reports that this was revealed by Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, during an interview with a group of journalists in Abuja on Saturday, August 31st.
According to him, ‘‘Instead of giving up, the government is carrying forward processes that should hopefully yield her release by her captors.”
The Presidential spokesman told reporters emphatically that much of what had been written about the girl in the press was false news.
His words: “Lines of communications remain open with the kidnappers, ISWA, to secure the release of Leah Sharibu.
‘‘Contrary to false reports, she is alive – given assurances from our security agencies-, and the government is committed to her safe return, as well as all other hostages to their families.
“Kidnapping for ransom should never be encouraged. This means not capitulating to the demands of terrorists: refrain from rewarding their heinous crimes with payment.
‘’With the abduction of loved family and friends, the government understands how difficult these times are for them, but the government is pursuing many options to ensure the safe return of Leah Sharibu.
“We must commit to law and communication, using the breadth of strategies at our disposal: legal initiatives, stakeholder cooperation, the involvement of all relevant parties and the use of the latest hostage negotiation techniques.
‘‘Kidnapping for ransom is rising across the Sahel. We must – collectively – make sure we implement best practice to prevent its exploitation.”
