Nigeria: Four years since Leah was taken
Open Doors Youth, PO Box 6, Witney, Oxon, UK, OX29 6WG
We serve Christians around the world whose brave faith in Jesus means they are, beaten, threatened, imprisoned, tortured, falsely accused, disowned and hated.
Just over four years ago, on 19 February 2018, 14-year-old Leah Sharibu was among 110 students kidnapped from their school in Yobe State, Nigeria, by Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP). Tragically, one girl died in captivity. The others were released within a month, but Leah was kept because she bravely refused to deny Jesus.
Leah turns 19 this year. Despite government assurances that she will be freed, the agonising wait goes on for her and her parents, Rebecca and Nathan.
In January 2022, General Lucky Irabor, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, reassured Leah’s parents in an interview on Nigerian television that ‘concrete plans are being put in place to secure the release of not only Leah, but all those being held captive by terrorists’.
“There have been several such promises before,” explains Jo Newhouse*, Open Doors spokesperson for work in Africa. “One would therefore not blame Leah’s parents for curbing their excitement over such statements.”
In 2018, during a visit to the USA, President Buhari pledged to secure Leah’s freedom. Further assurances from the government emerged in 2019, around which time they also issued a denial that Leah had been killed. In December 2020, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters’ Director of Information, said he was unaware of any negotiation for the release of Leah, but said discussions could be being held at a higher level.
Thousands of ‘Leahs’
Given the global coverage around Leah Sharibu, it may seem that her story is unique. Sadly, the reality is that there are thousands of ‘Leahs’ whose names we may never know.
Kidnapping has been an issue in Nigeria for many years, and is increasing. It makes for a horribly bleak picture as far as Christian women and young girls are concerned, particularly in northern Nigeria but also increasingly in the south. Christian communities have been terrorised by Boko Haram, Fulani militants and ISWAP, as well as armed bandits.
More Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than anywhere else in the world. The same applies to faith-based kidnapping, with the country accounting for two-thirds of cases worldwide. In total, the number of Christians abducted in Nigeria last year was 2,510 – an increase of more than 150% on the previous year. Nigeria is number seven on the Open Doors World Watch List 2022.
Tell Leah’s parents that you are praying for them
“I have not lost hope because God is in control and people are praying,” said Rebecca Sharibu in an interview last year. “I have the hope that one day, I will see my daughter again.”
Would you like to tell Leah’s parents that you are praying for them? You can do just that sending a postcard to let them know that they are in your hearts and prayers – see below to find out how at the link below…
*Name changed for security reasons
PRAY NOW...
1
That God will give Leah and her parents fresh hope, courage and strength
3
That God’s loving presence will surround and protect all ‘Leahs’, and that all of them will soon be reunited with their loved ones.
2
For a breakthrough in negotiations between the government and Leah’s captors
Three ways you can respond:
1Learn more and pray:
Get our free glow-in-the-dark World Watch List Map and find out more about the places where faith costs the most.
Get your map…-
2
Pray regularly:
Every Monday night at 7pm we'll be praying one prayer for one minute for the one in seven Christians around the world who face persecution. Set an alarm and tune in…
Join us… -
3
Choose to Lose:
Raise money by getting sponsored to lose something you love for a short time. Sign up and we'll send you a fundraising pack…
Sign up…
NEWS
May 12, 2025
Thanks to your prayers and support, over 800 families have been helped since the devastating earthquake in March.
May 12, 2025
Please pray for Trinh and her children after they were forced from their home for their faith.
May 6, 2025
Meet Tarik, once a dangerous man, he now is a church leader embracing a dangerous faith.
April 29, 2025
Pray for a Christian family in Vietnam whose home was destroyed after other villagers were angry that they became Christians…
April 14, 2025
Sara faithfully ministers to the women in her church, helping them to build strong relationships with their spouses. And it’s all because of a dream she had when she was 12…
April 14, 2025
Please join us in praying for Barun, a 13-year-old Christian convert who recently had to go to hospital after being beaten because of his faith in Jesus.
April 7, 2025
In July 2023 militants attacked Godwin’s village, killing his father. Thanks to your support and prayers, he is finding new hope, forgiving the attackers.
April 1, 2025
After Myanmar’s devastating earthquake, here are five ways to pray for the situation, for Christians and for the work of Open Doors partners.
March 31, 2025
Pray for the family, friends and church of an Indian Pastor who has been found dead a month after raising concerns about his safety on social media.
March 31, 2025
When Yasmina’s parents died within a few years of each other, her friends encouraged her to pursue her Islamic faith, but it was in Jesus that she found a new, but dangerous hope.
btn-scroll