CNN | Aug. 28, 2018
Lagos, Nigeria (CNN) – 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.