ICYMI: Archbishop of Canterbury hosts Leah Sharibu’s mother in London, prays for daughter’s release

Rebecca Sharibu, mother of Leah Sharibu, on Thursday met with Justin Welby, archbishop of Canterbury, over the plight of her daughter who has spent two years in captivity.

A faction of Boko Haram sect kidnapped her daughter alongside 109 other female students on February 19, 2018.

While 104 of the girls have been released, five of them reportedly died in captivity but the insurgents have kept Leah Sharibu captive for reportedly refusing to denounce her Christian faith.

Welby disclosed the meeting via a tweet, describing Rebecca as a woman of “profound courage and faith”.

“We were honoured to share the Eucharist with Rebecca Sharibu today. A woman of profound courage and faith, Rebecca is mother of 16-year-old Christian Leah Sharibu, kidnapped by #BokoHaram two years ago,” Welby wrote.

We were honoured to share the Eucharist with Rebecca Sharibu today. A woman of profound courage and faith, Rebecca is mother of 16-year-old Christian Leah Sharibu, kidnapped by #BokoHaram two years ago. We pray for you, and for Leah to be released free from harm. #LeahSharibu pic.twitter.com/obfxiIsMsz

— Archbishop of Canterbury (@JustinWelby) February 20, 2020

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Rebecca, who also joined a group of Nigerians to stage a protest on the premises of the Nigerian high commission in the UK, called on the British government to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari to secure her daughter’s freedom.

Rebecca said her family has been in pain since her daughter’s went missing. She appealed to Buhari to fulfil his promise by securing Leah Sharibu’s release.

“My daughter, my only daughter, is already two years in captivity, and President Buhari promised me that she would be released but she has not been released. I need Leah back home and I need him to set Leah free, just like the other girls were set free,” Rebecca said in Hausa.

“The students who were taken along with Leah have been brought back to their parents but we have been going through pain for two years, pains that cannot be described.

“On a daily basis, we hear Leah this, Leah that. We are in great pains. At times, when the stories come out, we feel so pained, we feel so terrible. We are constantly in pain, all we desire is to have Leah back with us.”