Eight years after she was abducted by Boko Haram militants from her school in Dapchi, Leah Sharibu’s parents have renewed their plea to the Federal Government, calling for urgent action to secure her freedom.
Leah was 14 when she was seized along with other schoolgirls from the Government Girls Science and Technical College in Dapchi, Yobe State, on February 19, 2018, during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. While most of the abducted girls were later freed, Leah reportedly remained in captivity after refusing to renounce her Christian faith.
As February 19, 2026, marks eight years since her abduction, her family says she has endured severe hardship, including forced marriage and childbirth.
In a statement issued by the spokesperson for Leah’s parents and President of the LEAH Foundation, Dr. Gloria Samdi Puldu, the family described the anniversary as a painful reminder of what they called the government’s failure to secure her release.
“As Leah enters her ninth year in unimaginable hardship, she is reported to have endured forced marriage, multiple childbirths, and ongoing suffering,” the statement read.
The foundation said its information is based on accounts from girls who were rescued or escaped captivity, confirming that Leah is still alive. The family urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to take immediate and decisive steps to locate and rescue her, stressing that her continued captivity is not only a personal tragedy but a matter of national conscience.
Leah’s mother, Rebecca Sharibu, has reportedly endured years of emotional trauma while holding on to hope that her daughter would return home safely. For eight years, the family has relied on fragmented reports of her survival amid harsh and degrading conditions.
To mark the anniversary, the LEAH Foundation announced a virtual global prayer session themed: “From Glory to Glory, Eight Years … One Faithful God.” The event aims to unite participants worldwide in prayer for Leah’s release and for other women and girls still held by terrorist groups.
Peace advocate Gideon Para-Mallam also joined the call, urging the government to intensify efforts to rescue Leah and others in similar circumstances. He warned that her ongoing captivity underscores deep-rooted security challenges in the country and called for stronger, coordinated action against kidnappings, killings, and insurgent violence.
The foundation further appealed to international leaders, human rights organisations, and faith communities to sustain advocacy efforts and maintain pressure on authorities until Leah is safely reunited with her family.