Leah’s schoolmates say she was not released because she refused to denounce her Christian faith (photo credit: Sahara Reporters) The Federal Government has said it is still negotiating with Boko Haram terrorists over the abduction of Leah Sharibu from Dapchi in Yobe state.
Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed said this on Wednesday, adding that the Federal Government was yet to resolve the issue of six out of the 111 girls abducted from Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State on February 19.
“I think Mr. President actually addressed that issue in Washington and my position is always the same: that we are yet to resolve the issue of six girls,” he said after the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja.
“111 girls were kidnapped, 105 were returned and we are busy on daily basis asking and negotiating and asking what happened to those five officially at least and then what is delaying the young girl, Leah Sharibu.
“Negotiations with insurgents are quite tortuous and complicated at times but I can assure you we are not leaving her to her fate and those who should are daily busy working on her release.”
Asked what is torturous about the negotiations since the terrorists released the 111 girls in broad daylight, the minister said, “Anybody who negotiates with insurgents and terrorists in the world will know that is not a direct face-to-face negotiation like we are doing now.”
Leah was not freed with other girls due to her reported refusal to deny her faith, Christianity.
