A member of the British Parliament, Tom Brake, has joined his voice to the call for Leah Sharibu’s release from the captivity of Boko Haram terrorists.
Mr Brake made the call on Tuesday (September 4) while staging a protest at the Nigerian High Commission to the United Kingdom.
The Brexit and International Trade spokesman sat on a chair with a desk, carrying a poster with the inscription “HELD BECAUSE OF HER FAITH, FREE LEAH” outside the Nigerian Embassy.
Outside the Nigerian High Commission launching the #freeleah campaign. Leah, who is still held captive by Boko Haram, because she refused to recant her Christian faith, has been held for 198 days. pic.twitter.com/3b4KvKksql
— Tom Brake MP (@thomasbrake) September 4, 2018
Meanwhile, the British MP’s action has been greeted by various reactions and commendation from individuals and groups within and outside the country.
Leah is among the over 100 schoolgirls abducted by the Boko Haram factional group in February from the Government Girls Secondary School, Dapchi in Yobe State, North-East Nigeria.
In March, the terrorists returned all the abducted students to the community while about five of them were said to have died in their custody.
However, Leah has been held back by the insurgents for more than 190 days reportedly for refusing to renounce Christianity.
She was the only Christian among the girls.
An audio clip consequently emerged on August 27 in which Leah pleaded with the Federal Government to help her regain freedom.
“I am Leah Sharibu, the girl that was abducted in GGSS Dapchi. I am calling on the government, particularly, the President to pity me and get me out of this serious situation,” the 15-year-old said in Hausa.
“I also plead to the members of the public to help my mother, my father, my younger brother and relatives. Kindly help me out of my predicament.
“I am calling on the government and people of goodwill to intervene to get me out of my current situation. I am begging you to treat me with compassion. Thank you,” she added.
Read the Twitter reactions to Tom Brake’s protest below;
Thank you Tom for standing up for #ReligiousFreedom
— Positive Politics (@PoliticsPos1) September 4, 2018
Thank you so much for this. Please remember most of the 219 abducted #ChibokGirls are Christians and also refused to convert. They suffered greatly as a result. 112 #ChibokGirls remain in captivity after 4 years. Please advocate for them too
— HabibaBalogun (@HabibaBalogun) September 4, 2018
Converting muslim girls to radical islam and Boko Haram’s hateful ideology is a forced conversion. It is not OK to maim, murder, rape, and forcefuly marry any girl in the name of one’s religion or any cause!
— HabibaBalogun (@HabibaBalogun) September 4, 2018
God bless you sir. Nigerians won’t see this one now to make it go viral.
— Wilson Shadrach™🚨 (@iam_wilsons) September 4, 2018
Thank you Brake and may the God that Leah serve reward you, Amen.
— Calabar Reporters (@calabarreporter) September 4, 2018
I was under the impression that Boko Haram have kidnapped hundreds of women and girls,
Had no idea it was just Leah.— Naletsana☆ (@NalediShanell) September 5, 2018
Top man Mr Brake. I respect your efforts and wish you all the best in achieving it. Have you considered to Nigeria and speaking with politicians regarding this? Perhaps you could also work on a documentary about this to highlight her cruel situation?
— 🇪🇷Mr🇬🇧Prime🇪🇹Minister🇸🇴 (@ApolloJJJackson) September 4, 2018