Kidnapped Dapchi schoolgirl Leah Sharibu, who has been held by the Boko Haram terror group since February, has pleaded for her freedom in newly-released audio.
Sharibu, 15, is being held by a faction of Boko Haram after she reportedly refused to renounce her Christian faith.
Most of the students abducted from their boarding school in Dapchi village, Yobe State, February 19, were released after four weeks.
"I am Leah Sharibu, the girl that was abducted from Government Girls Science Technical College, Dapchi. I am calling on government and people of goodwill to get me out of this problem," she says in the audio in her native Hausa language.
"I am begging you to treat me with compassion, I am calling on the government, particularly, the president, to pity me and get me out of this serious situation."
Her father, Sharibu Nathan confirmed to CNN that it was his daughter speaking on the audio. He added that he was happy to hear her voice.
"I thought she might have been killed since we were told by those released that Boko Haram kept her because she is a Christian. I can only imagine the way they would have treated her," Nathan said.
Nathan said he is hopeful that the recording, obtained by a local journalist, will redouble efforts to free her.
"I have been calling the government to save my daughter. It has been seven months since she was taken, I believe they can get her from Boko Haram if they want to help us," Nathan said.
President Buhari's spokesman Garba Shehu said the secret service was analyzing the voice recording and government reaction will be made known after the investigation.
Shehu said Buhari will not rest until Sharibu and other girls in the group's captivity are reunited with their parents.
"For President Buhari, nothing will be spared in bringing all our girls home. He will not rest until all of them are freed," Shehu said in a tweet.
Boko Haram has kidnapped more than 1,000 childrenin Nigeria since 2013.
The group, however, gained global notoriety following the mass kidnapping of more than 200 girls from a boarding school in Chibok town, Borno State in April 2014.
So far 93 of the Chibok girls were freed in a swap deal between the Nigerian government and the insurgent group.
More than 100 of them remain in captivity with their whereabouts unknown.
Latest Stories
-
Pack of ‘hungry’ dogs kill Nigerian woman in Italy
11 minutes -
From the Pitch to the Studio: Joseph Painstil’s Musical Journey
49 minutes -
Apaak reaffirms commitment to free tuition for first-year tertiary students
55 minutes -
NDC’s free tuition for first-year university students won’t be compulsory – Clement Apaak
57 minutes -
ORAL receives over 700 petitions; preparing to submit report to Mahama
58 minutes -
Today’s front pages :Thursday, January 16,2025
1 hour -
GIBA seeks mandatory injunction to stop the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization and KNet Ghana Ltd from illegal fee demands
1 hour -
Nsoatreman Coach Yaw Preko awaits Fate after fan invasion at training grounds
2 hours -
NPP is no longer strong, says Sammy Crabbe
2 hours -
‘We’re not inviting anyone, just collecting data’ – Domelevo on ORAL criticism
2 hours -
Dubik Mahama rejects proposal for further privatisation of ECG
3 hours -
Joynews’ Ohemeng Tawiah sustains life-threatening injuries in police-illegal miners clash
3 hours -
Residents of Nungua demand intensified police patrol due to rise in robberies
3 hours -
Government urged to keep investing in technical, vocational education
3 hours -
Privatisation won’t solve Ghana’s electricity challenges – Scientist
3 hours