Eight years after she was kidnapped by Boko Haram militants from her school in Dapchi, Yobe State, Leah Sharibu’s parents have renewed their heartfelt plea to the Federal Government, urging swift and decisive action to ensure her freedom.
Leah was 14 when she was seized alongside other schoolgirls from the Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, on February 19, 2018, during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
While most of the abducted girls were later freed, Leah was reportedly held back after she refused to renounce her Christian faith.
As February 19, 2026, marks eight years since her abduction, her family says she has endured severe hardship in captivity, including forced marriage and childbirth.
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 described the anniversary as a painful reminder of what they termed the government’s failure to secure her freedom.
The statement read, “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 its information was based on accounts from some girls who were rescued or escaped from captivity and reportedly confirmed that Leah is still alive.
The family urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to take immediate and decisive steps to locate and rescue Leah, stressing that her continued captivity is not only a personal tragedy but also a matter of national conscience.
Leah’s mother, Rebecca Sharibu, was said to have endured years of emotional trauma while holding on to hope that her daughter would return home safely.
For eight years, the family has lived with uncertainty, relying on fragmentary reports suggesting that Leah remains alive, even as her condition in captivity is described as harsh and degrading.
To mark the eighth anniversary of her abduction, the LEAH Foundation announced plans to host a virtual global prayer session themed, “From Glory to Glory, Eight Years … One Faithful God.”
The event is expected to attract participants from across the world to pray for Leah’s release and for other women and girls still being held by terrorist groups.
Peace advocate Gideon Para-Mallam also joined the renewed call, urging the Nigerian government to intensify efforts to rescue Leah and others in similar circumstances.
He stressed the need for stronger and coordinated action against ongoing killings, kidnappings and insurgent violence across the country, warning that Leah’s continued captivity highlights deep-rooted security challenges.
The foundation further appealed to global leaders, international human rights organisations and faith communities to sustain advocacy efforts and maintain pressure on relevant authorities until Leah is reunited with her family.