Five years have passed and Leah, who grew from a teenager to a young adult, still hasn’t come home. “Open Doors” continues to negotiate with the Nigerian government and is trying to develop forms of support for Nigerian families who have been abducted.
On May 14, Nigerian Leah Sharibu turned 20 after spending 1 911 days in prison. The torment of her parents continues to this day. The campaign for Leah’s release began when her story became international news, but has gradually died down.
The story began five years ago at the Girls’ Science Academy in Dapchi, a town in northern Nigeria. Leah was 14 years old at the time and sure about her future.
On the evening of February 18, 2018 those dreams were shattered when ISWAP militants attacked the school and kidnapped over a hundred students.
In 2022, 2,510 Christians were taken hostage in Nigeria alone.
A month later, with the help of background work, the girls were released – all but Leah.
“I will not convert to Islam”
Leah’s parents, Nathan and Rebecca Sharibu, still live in Dapchi and are waiting for Leah to come home.
Earlier this year, an Open Doors field worker visited them and encouraged them, prayed with them, and told them that “Open Doors” supporters are still faithfully praying for Leah and the entire family.
“When all the parents ran to school to see their daughters, I was told that Leah was not among them. Leah hadn’t come back. I asked the other girls what happened that she didn’t come back,» recalls Rebecca.
In Nigeria and across sub-Saharan Africa, kidnapping has proven to be a lucrative source of income for criminals and extremists.
The girls had said that they had all gathered together and the captors asked which of them were Christians. Leah had raised her hand, for which the others had first scolded her and then said themselves that they were Muslims.
However, Leah had refused to identify herself as a Muslim, bravely raising her hand and declaring that she was a Christian.
The ISWAP men had said that Leah had to deny Christ and convert to Islam before she could get into the van. Leah had refused, saying that she was a Christian who would never convert to Islam.
In captivity
Mother Rebecca Sharibu remembers the girls telling her that the kidnappers had threatened to take Leah prisoner.
“Since you don’t convert to Islam, you have to stay with us.”
Leah had bravely answered them: “I’m not converting to Islam because I’m not a Muslim. I will stay here.”
Two months later, ISWAP released a video of Leah asking the government for help. She also asked the public to help her mother, father and younger brother and relatives.
After two weeks, ISWAP warned that if their demands were not met, they would kill 15-year-old Leah. After the deadline, they released another video claiming that Leah would be their slave for the rest of her life.
No prayer is too big for God
Rumors are spreading about Leah’s whereabouts and that she is married to some commander, with whom she has two children. However, Rebecca has yet to see or hear from her daughter.
Despite the sad events and knowing that her daughter would be with her now if she had renounced her faith, Rebecca says she is proud of her daughter.
“I’m grateful to Leah for her brave decision,” says Rebecca, still clearly traumatized.
“She refused to convert to Islam. Her strong faith makes me very happy.”
Rebecca and Nathan Sharibu’s faith in God does not waver. Their faith is a genuine testimony of what faithfulness to God and true joy means. They are still praying, like other families in Nigeria whose daughters have been abducted, for their daughters to return home.
“We pray for her because we know that no prayer is too big for God. I know she’ll be back,” Rebecca says decisively.
Rebecca is grateful to supporters who continue to pray for Leah: “I thank God for you. May God protect and keep you wherever you are. We pray for you day and night.”
Strength in the midst of suffering
As you walk the path of suffering, you must carry a tremendous burden.
“To be honest, we’re not happy,” Rebecca admits. “We just somehow manage our lives here.”
Yet she has not let despair take over. Instead, suffering has given her a new perspective that we often only learn when we depend on God in times of crisis.
“God has been our source of strength in everything we do. When I look back on my walk of faith, I can say that through these experiences I have come closer to God.”
Like many persecuted Christians trying to cope with the loss of family members, Rebecca relies on her faith community and God’s Word.
Not an isolated case
“I have joined a women’s friendship church and received a lot of encouragement and strength from there. Whenever I’m worried, I read Psalm 23 out loud.”
Like Leah, many people are still being kidnapped.
In Nigeria (ranked 6th in the WWL report) and throughout sub-Saharan Africa, kidnapping has proven to be a lucrative source of income. Every year thousands of Christians and moderate Muslims are kidnapped by radical Islamists hunting for ransom. In 2022, 2,510 Christians were kidnapped in Nigeria alone.
Since Leah’s kidnapping, Nigeria has already had two new presidents in office, Muhammadu Buhari and now the new election winner of the APC, Bola Tinubu.
In 2019, President Buhari promised to release Leah from prison. The same was confirmed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, which later officially announced that it “will not relent in its efforts to bring Leah Sharibu home safely”.
Five years have passed and Leah still hasn’t come home.
“Open Doors” continues to negotiate with the Nigerian government. Efforts are being made to achieve a position in government structures that would help maintain active family ties and create an open and easily accessible channel of discussion for the traumatized parents of Christian hostages so that they can experience God’s grace and encouragement on a daily basis.
Source: https://opendoors.fi/siepattu-leah-sharibu-taytti-20-vuotta-vankeudessa-nigerissa/
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