Nigerians on social media have reacted to claims by Grace Taku, an aid worker abducted by Boko Haram terrorists. She said that Leah Sharibu, the only Dapchi schoolgirl in Boko Haram captivity is dead.
Taku made the revelation in a video released by the insurgents in which she called on the Federal Government of Nigeria not to abandon her as they abandoned Leah and Alice which resulted in their deaths.
Watch The Video
twitter.com/SaharaReporters/status/1154447440017149952
Reactions Trail The Video
twitter.com/perogunner/status/1154430020456239104
A Nigerian on Twitter, @FakhuusHashim, said, “Leah Sharibu has reportedly been killed by Boko Haram. A tragedy! Leah was the only girl left behind during the rescue of Dapchi girls. May her soul find peace! The Nigerian state has failed her.”
@Thedabigal wrote, “We as human and as a country failed Leah Sharibu. This news, if true, is heartbreaking. We are just a bunch of people living in a failed system and with zero humanity.”
twitter.com/royaltyuso/status/1154431585879564289
@Nonso_ tweeted, “I don’t know what’s worse, people politicizing Leah Sharibu’s death or those calling her a martyr. She was a child, a child full of promise. The least we could do at this moment is to pay our condolence. She didn’t deserve this. Nobody deserves this. I hope she is finally at peace.”
@DrChiemeziem said, “Hearing that Leah Sharibu has been killed in captivity breaks my heart. Some of the things Buhari has gotten away with were things y’all crucified Jonathan for. Now, where’s the outrage? Y’all are silent? As expected. Keep it up.”
Some Nigerians questioned the efforts the Federal Government claimed to have put into rescuing her.
@MartinsAniobi said, “What effort did the retired man of God, Professor Yemi Osinbajo put to facilitate her release? Buhari has failed Nigerians. If Osinbajo had a conscience, he would resign. RIP Leah Sharibu.”
@hand2ome tweeted, “Nobody holds Buhari responsible for anything. Nigeria is a wicked place. I pray this news of Leah Sharibu is false.”
Federal Government Reacts
The Federal Government later reacted to the claim, with Presidential aide Garba Shehu issuing a statement.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity said in a Facebook post that negotiations for the release of all those in captivity were still ongoing. Shehu, who did not say if Sharibu was alive or not, said the Presidency had been briefed on the matter and that action would be taken.
He wrote, “The Presidency has been briefed by the responsible government agency about the disturbing video showing our citizens, the humanitarian aid workers held captive. The Presidency has been given assurances that contact is being made and the captors are being talked to.
“Beside these aid workers, there are some others about whom this engagement is about-Leah Sharibu, a religious leader and all the others. These discussions have been ongoing even before this time and what this latest incident has done is to bring urgency to the efforts that the secret service is making.
Government is making contacts, in the hope that the captors will see reason to not visit hardship or even harm on these innocent individuals.”
We sympathize with the family of Leah Sharibu, as we hope for a lasting end to their ordeal. We also hope this end is a happy one for the family.
Resource: Legit NG, Punch
Also read: Kidnappers kill British aid worker Faye Mooney in Nigeria
