Leah Sharibu is alive, says Lai

Lai Mohammed, minister of information, says Leah Sharibu is not dead.

Sharibu is the only Christian among the 119 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Dapchi, Yobe state, who were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in February 2018.

The other girls have since been freed.

Almost one year later since Sharibu was abducted, there are reports saying she died in captivity.

Speaking with journalists in Kwara state on Sunday, Mohammed said the “fake news” is a ploy by the opposition to tarnish the image of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

“It’s absolutely fake news. There is nothing like that,” he said.

“I think it’s part of the opposition’s strategies to throw everything at the administration and at the President. I think everyday they are realising the hopelessness of their position.

“Everyday they are amazed by the support Mr. President is receiving from every part of the country and they have decided that they are going to spread falsehood, inflame passion and make this election a Muslim-Christian affair or north-south affair, but people are not listening to them.”

The minister said the APC in Kwara has been meeting to ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the state on Monday is a success.

“The party has been meeting in the last couple of days to ensure that the president’s visit is very successful,” he said.

“We have watched the rallies in many parts of the country and we want to assure Mr. President that our rally in terms of numbers, quality of people, entertainment and colour will rank among the best.”

Mohammed said “the crowd that will come out to receive the president will be organic as the party does not engage in renting crowds.”