Her parents, Nathan and Rebecca, shared recently:
‘Every day without Leah is a wound that deepens…Our family lives with a pain no words can fully capture. Yet we hold onto our faith. We believe that God who sees the oppressed will bring her home…’
Today, on the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, we have an opportunity to respond together as part of the Voices 4 Justice initiative.
It’s a day of action — and we can all play our part:
Send an email today.
Use our template to write to Baroness Chapman, the Minister for Africa. We’re asking her to do all she can to act on conflict-related and gender-based violence in Nigeria, and to press for Leah’s release.
Stand together in prayer.
We believe in the power of prayer to bring change, because we pray to a mighty God of justice. Download the prayer guide and start praying today. You can also join a prayer meeting led by CSW-Nigeria on Wednesday 24 June. Sign up here.
Leah Sharibu was just 14 years old when she was taken from her school in northeast Nigeria in February 2018. She was the only Christian among a group of 110 girls abducted by members of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The surviving girls were returned a month later following negotiations, but Leah was not among them. She had refused to convert in exchange for her release and has been in captivity ever since.
Leah’s story is not isolated. Across Nigeria, many women and girls from vulnerable communities have experienced abduction, forced marriage, trafficking, sexual violence, and other severe trauma at the hands of extremist groups.
Cases of conflict-related sexual violence remain underreported. Unknown numbers are currently suffering in captivity, and survivors often lack support. Meanwhile, perpetrators continue to act without fear of the consequences.
Today, we can call for this to change.
It only takes a moment to send your letter, but every email helps draw attention to Leah’s story and many others across Nigeria – strengthening our call for action.
Thank you for your compassion, your prayers and your solidarity.
CSW Campaigns Team
‘To Leah, wherever you are: we love you beyond measure. We are proud of your steadfast faith. Stay strong. Help is coming. The voices for justice are rising.’
(Nathan and Rebecca Sharibu)
