Buhari promises to free Dapchi girl Leah Sharibu still being held for refusing to convert to Islam

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has pledged to do all within his power to free the remaining Government Girls Science Technical College (GGSTC) pupil Leah Sharibu still being held by Boko Haram over her refusal to convert to Islam.

On Wednesday, 110 GGSTC Dapchi schoolgirls, who were abducted from their boarding school by Boko Haram last month, were released. However, five of the girls who were kidnapped on February 19 died while in captivity and Ms Sharibu was not among the released because she refused to change her religious faith.

President Buhari's spokesman, Mallam Shehu Garba, said yesterday that the government will not relent in efforts to bring Leah Sharibu safely back home to her parents as it has done for the other girls. He pointed out that the president recognises the right of every Nigerian to chose their faith, so supports the young lady's right to refuse to convert from Christianity to Islam.

Mallam Garba said: “President Buhari is fully conscious of his duty under the constitution to protect all Nigerians, irrespective of faith, ethnic background or geopolitical location and will not shirk in this responsibility. The president is equally mindful of the fact that true followers of Islam all over the world respect the injunction that there is no compulsion in religion, so to this effect, no one or group can impose its religion on another.

“His heart goes out to the isolated parents who must watch others rejoice while their own daughter is still away, so the lone Dapchi girl, Leah, will not be abandoned. President Buhari assures the Sharibu family that he will continue to do all he can to ensure that they also have cause to rejoice with their daughter soon.”