Exactly eight years after her abduction by Boko Haram terrorists, the parents of Leah Sharibu have lamented that she has endured forced marriage, multiple childbirths and continued suffering in captivity.
They called on the administration of President Bola Tinubu to take immediate and decisive steps to locate and rescue Leah, urging the international community to intensify support and pressure to secure her freedom.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the spokesperson for Leah’s parents and President of the LEAH Foundation, Dr. Gloria Samdi Puldu, the family renewed its appeal as Leah marks eight years in captivity.
Sharibu was 14 years old when she was abducted from the Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, on February 19, 2018. While most of the schoolgirls were later released, Leah was reportedly held back after she refused to renounce her Christian faith.
The statement noted that February 19, 2026, marks a painful milestone for the family.
“As Leah enters her ninth year in unimaginable hardship, she is reported to have endured forced marriage, multiple childbirths, and ongoing suffering,” the foundation said, citing accounts from some girls who were rescued or escaped captivity and reportedly confirmed that she is still alive.
The foundation described her continued detention as a matter of “national urgency and moral imperative,” stressing that her prolonged captivity highlights the broader security challenges facing the country, particularly the abduction and exploitation of women and girls by terrorist groups.
Leah’s mother, Rebecca Sharibu, was said to have endured years of grief and uncertainty, holding onto hope for her daughter’s safe return.
The LEAH Foundation announced plans to host a virtual global prayer session to mark the anniversary, themed “From Glory to Glory, Eight Years … One Faithful God,” calling on people of faith worldwide to pray for Leah’s release and for other girls and women still in captivity.
Peace advocate Gideon Para-Mallam also urged the Nigerian government to intensify efforts to rescue Leah and other abducted girls, stressing the need for stronger action against ongoing killings and kidnappings across the country.
The foundation called on global leaders, human rights organisations and faith communities to amplify advocacy efforts and hold relevant authorities accountable until Leah is reunited with her family.
After eight years, the family said, Leah’s resilience should be met with concrete action to secure her freedom.
Friday Olokor, Abuja
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