The Presidency on Saturday disclosed that Leah Sharibu, the schoolgirl who was kidnapped by a faction of Boko Haram terrorists in February 2018, is alive.
Mr Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammad Buhari on Media and Public made this disclosure while speaking to a group of journalists in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
A year and six months after Leah was abducted from the Government Girls Science and Technical Secondary School, Dapchi in Yobe State, Shehu maintained that the Federal Government is making efforts to ensure her release from her captors.
The President’s aide also dismissed reports that the schoolgirl had been harmed by her abductors, assuring that the Muhammadu Buhari administration would not give up on her safe return.
“Instead of giving up, the government is carrying forward processes that should hopefully yield her release by her captors,” Shehu was quoted as saying in a statement.
“Lines of communications remain open with the kidnappers, ISWA, to secure the release of Leah Sharibu.
“Contrary to false reports, she is alive – given assurances from our security agencies –, and the government is committed to her safe return, as well as all other hostages to their families.
“Kidnapping for ransom should never be encouraged. This means not capitulating to the demands of terrorists: refrain from rewarding their heinous crimes with payment.”
Shehu added that the government understands how difficult these times are for Leah’s family and friends, with the abduction.
He, however, stated that the government was “pursuing many options” to ensure the safe return of the girls.
The President’s mouthpiece further submitted “We must commit to law and communication, using the breadth of strategies at our disposal: legal initiatives, stakeholder cooperation, involvement of all relevant parties, and the use of the latest hostage negotiation techniques.
”Kidnapping for ransom is rising across the Sahel. We must – collectively – make sure we implement best practice to prevent its exploitation.”
He described reports of Leah’s death as ‘fake news’, calling for patience in dealing with the challenge the case poses.
He gave assurance that the present administration was fully conscious that any misstep on a delicate issue as such could be costly.
