BREAKING: Boko Haram Reportedly Offers to Release Leah Sharibu for Ransom — Source
Fresh reports indicate that Leah Sharibu, the Christian schoolgirl held captive since 2018, may be released if a ransom is paid, according to international human rights lawyer Emmanuel Ogebe.
The disclosure was shared on the Jonathan Philip page, where it was stated that members of Boko Haram have reportedly opened a channel proposing her release in exchange for payment. However, as of press time, there has been no official confirmation from the Federal Government of Nigeria regarding the claim.
Leah Sharibu was abducted in February 2018 alongside other schoolgirls from the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College in Dapchi, Yobe State. While most of the girls were later released, Sharibu was reportedly held back after refusing to renounce her Christian faith — a decision that has since made her a global symbol of resilience and religious conviction.
Over the years, her continued captivity has drawn condemnation from religious groups, civil society organisations, and international human rights advocates. Campaigns calling for her release have echoed across Nigeria and beyond, keeping public attention fixed on her case.
The latest report raises complex and urgent questions. Security analysts have long warned that ransom payments to terrorist groups can strengthen their operational capacity, potentially financing further attacks or abductions. At the same time, supporters and advocates argue that saving a life should remain the highest priority.
The international community has previously called for sustained pressure on extremist groups operating in northeastern Nigeria, but concrete diplomatic or rescue breakthroughs regarding Sharibu’s case have remained elusive.
As this development unfolds, Nigerians and global observers alike await official clarification and a decisive course of action.
