“We know that Leah is alive”
Leah Sharibu was kidnapped by Boko Haram three and a half years ago. ACN recently spoke to Reverend Gideon Para-Mallam about Leah. Reverend Para-Mallam is at the forefront of campaigning for Leah’s release.
By ACN Staff
Leah Sharibu. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)
On 19 February 2018, 14-year-old Leah Sharibu was abducted by the Islamist extremists of Boko Haram in northern Nigeria. Maria Lozano from Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) recently interview Reverend Gideon Para-Mallam to discuss Leah’s case. Reverend Para-Mallam is a Protestant missionary based in the predominantly Muslim north of Nigeria. He is also a peace and justice activist and president of the Para-Mallam Peace Foundation. Reverend Para-Mallam campaigns for Leah’s release, encourages prayer for her release, and carries out behind the scenes work to try to have Leah returned to her family.
Reverend Gideon Para-Mallam. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)
Reverend Para-Mallam confirmed that Leah is alive. He has recently received confirmation of this from two different sources. He also explained how Leah’s family are trying to secure their daughter’s release:
“Practically speaking, the main thing they are doing is to pray, pray, and pray. Secondly, they need to continue appealing to the government and, thirdly, encourage groups, both locally and globally, to continue working tirelessly for Leah’s release from Boko Haram captivity.
As for Leah’s younger brother, who recently graduated from secondary school, he is actively praying and eagerly waiting for the day his elder sister Leah will be released from captivity.”
When asked if it is wise to speak about Leah’s case publicly, Reverend Para-Mallam responded by referencing Sacred Scripture (Ecclesiastes 3:7): that there is a time for everything under the sun and therefore there are times to talk about Leah’s case publicly and there are times not to. In this way Reverend Para-Mallam sometimes speaks when he gets new information about Leah and other captives, but sometimes he does not discuss these issues publicly as it would not be appropriate to do so.
Reverend Para-Mallam was adamant that not speaking about Leah’s case was not an option, as this would not help in having her released.
Reverend Para-Mallam explained that negotiations and discussions do go on behind the scenes, but he believes it will be prayer what will secure the release of Leah and the other captives. He shared with us his favourite prayer for Leah’s release: “Lord, please make it sooner than later!”
Protestors holding a banner remembering the abducted school girls, including Leah. (Credit: Catalyst for Global Peace and Justice)
Reverend Para-Mallam also spoke to us about the case of Alice Loksha Ngaddah, a Christian nurse who worked for UNICEF:
“Alice Ngaddah is a mother of two young children. Leah was kidnapped from her school in Dapchi, Yobe State on 19 February 2018, and Alice, a young nurse with UNICEF, was kidnapped on 1 March 2018 during her humanitarian work. Only 9 days separate them.
As of today, 2 October 2021, Leah has spent 1322 Days in captivity while Alice Ngaddah has spent 1312 days in captivity. By God’s grace our peace foundation will continue to actively advocate for Leah Sharibu, Alice Ngaddah and others… Alice is still in captivity. At one point they were both held in the same camp, in 2019 and early 2020, but they are in separate camps right now, according to information received. Encouraging their family members hasn’t been easy, they are traumatized.”
Reverend Para-Mallam explained that there are many other captives of Boko Haram. Some of them have been kidnapped as recently as July 2021.
Reverend Para-Mallam told us that the persecution of Christians in Nigeria has never been so bad:
“The situation for Christians in Nigeria could be described as ‘deadly and horrible times.’ Christians in Nigeria have never had it so bad. The killings are real. The effect of the persecution is palpably severe is some parts of the country, especially the Northeast, West, and Middle Belt.”
Please join us in prayer with Reverend Para-Mallam that Leah and the other captives of Boko Haram may soon be released. Let us also pray for the Church in Nigeria, that they may continue to receive the grace to maintain their heroic Christian witness.