The Christian Association of Nigeria has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of not doing enough to ensure Leah Sharibu regains her freedom.
The Christian body in a statement issued on Wednesday to mark the second year of Sharibu’s abduction, said it doubted the Federal Government was still working towards Leah Sharibu’s release from Boko Haram captivity.
Recall that Leah Sharibu was among the 110 Dapchi School girls abducted on February 19, 2018.
While the others had been released, Leah, a Christian, remained in the hands of the Boko Haram terrorists for failing to convert to Islam.
In a statement signed by its Director, Legal and Public Affairs, Kwamkur Samuel, titled ‘ Leah Sharibu and Chibok Girls: President Muhammadu Buhari should fulfil his promise,’ CAN again condemned FG’s decision to grant amnesty to repentant Boko Haram fighters even as it lamented the security challenges facing the country.
The statement read in part, “It is two years now since the young Christian girl and unarguably, the face of the Church in the country, Miss Leah Sharibu, was captured by Boko Haram along with other colleagues but she is the only one still languishing in the den of her captors as a captive of faith simply because against the pressure from the terrorists, she would not convert to Islam.
“Recently, President Muhammadu Buhari was widely reported in the media reiterating his resolve and promise to secure the release of all persons abducted by the Boko Haram terrorists, especially Miss Leah Sharibu and the Chibok girls. The President made this same promise as part of his campaign promises before the 2015 presidential election. When will he do as he has promised?
“The recent sad narrative about Miss Leah Sharibu’s maternal condition is worrisome. Also, the setting free of so-called ex-Boko Haram terrorists under deradicalisation, rehabilitation, empowerment of the arrested terrorists by the Federal Government is rather troubling and suspicious.
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“What is the guarantee that the freed ex-terrorists would not return to Sambisa Forest and pick up their arms against innocent Nigerians?
“We are equally disappointed and disturbed by the failure of the Federal Government to react to the footage going round that the Turkish government is allegedly funding the terrorists. We call on the government to please stop releasing those who are responsible for the horrendous killings in the country.
“It is like urinating on the graves of those they killed as well as a dirty slap on the faces of the bereaved and a way of weakening the morale of the security officers on the battlefield. Where on earth have they released the captured rebellious soldiers while the war is still raging? Was any armed robber ever released after being caught by the security agencies?
“While we commiserate with the people and the government of Adamawa, Borno, Katsina and Zamfara states over recent attacks on them, we wonder why the Presidency would issue a warning to armless Katsina communities not to fight back invading murderous bandits who killed and wounded dozens of defenceless citizens? How does that justify the genuineness of the acclaimed fight against insurgency and banditry? When has self-defence become an offence in the country?”
The association reiterated its call for the overhaul of the security structure of the country while warning government against any attempt to clamp down on its leaders.
“Rather, they should give us no cause to cry for a violence-free society again by restoring peace to all regions. We call on Christians and all well-meaning Nigerians to continue to pray and speak against the continuous killing of Nigerians and the unfounded excuses always given by those in government to explain away the absurd situation,” the statement added.
