Emotions, tears and cheers reign supreme in Jos, the Plateau state capital on Tuesday as a coalition of Christian groups gather at the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) to celebrate the 16th birthday of Leah Sharibu, a school girl been held captive by Boko Haram since February 2015.
The birthday ceremony at the headquarters church of ECWA in Jos was characterized with prayers for the Leah, her parents and churches in the country as well as special prayers for God’s intervention in the security situation of the country.
The Christian groups which include Leah Sharibu Foundation, Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment (CWEENS), Catalyst for Peace and Justice (CPJ) and Param-Mallam Foundation, took to the streets of Jos to protest the continued incarceration of Leah Sharibu and the inability of the federal government to secure his release.
The group took their protest to the Plateau state house of assembly where they submitted a letter of protest to the Speaker of the House Rt. Hon. Joshua Madaki.
Earlier in the church activities, Barrister Paul Abache of the Leah Sharibu Foundation, while giving the background of the program said, “On the 19th February 2015, some gunmen stormed Dapchi village and made away with young girls. Some were release but Leah was not just for her refusal to renounce her religious fate.
“Today mark exactly 16 years of Leah Sharibu, and this is the second time we are celebrating her birthday in the hands of Boko Haram.
“As Christians, Leah has become a role model, a heroine and we need to celebrate her whether she is alive or not. But we know she is alive because her God in heaven has neither forsaken her of forgotten her.
We call on the whole world to join us in celebrating Leah Sharibu for her bravery, her unshakable faith in Jesus Christ and for standing as a symbol of Christianity”
In a word of exaltation, Mr. Dayo Tella said, “Leah is been celebrated worldwide today because, at her age, she was able to hold on to her faith eve at the point of death. We give it to her mother and her church for raising her the way she is. The girl must have been filled with the Holy Spirit for standing against evil doers and her refusal to give up her faith even at the point of death.
“Only God know why he allow Leah to remain in captivity, it is not that it is beyond God to secure her release”
Tella enjoined Christians to keep praying, “Let keep praying and glorifying God for the life of Leah, because we know Leah will be an instrument of honor at the end. The parents should not weep because they have faith; have faith in God because God is at work. Let’s keep praying, let’s continued to belief in God
He called on the FGN to ensure they do justice for the weak against the strong. He also called on Nigerians to join hands with government to fight the prevailing insecurity across the country.
Another leader of the church, Dr Dan Sumaila said, “It’s not a time to mourn, Nigerian is at a cross road where no one is secured including security agencies, traditional rulers, politicians. Let all Christians emulate Leah not to deny the God that you serve. Let all parents teach their children the way Lear. Let us remain as Christians in words and in action”
The birthday ceremony at the headquarters church of ECWA in Jos was characterized with prayers for the Leah, her parents and churches in the country as well as special prayers for God’s intervention in the security situation of the country.
The Christian groups which include Leah Sharibu Foundation, Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment (CWEENS), Catalyst for Peace and Justice (CPJ) and Param-Mallam Foundation, took to the streets of Jos to protest the continued incarceration of Leah Sharibu and the inability of the federal government to secure his release.
Earlier in the church activities, Barrister Paul Abache of the Leah Sharibu Foundation, while giving the background of the program said, “On the 19th February 2015, some gunmen stormed Dapchi village and made away with young girls. Some were release but Leah was not just for her refusal to renounce her religious fate.
“Today mark exactly 16 years of Leah Sharibu, and this is the second time we are celebrating her birthday in the hands of Boko Haram.
“As Christians, Leah has become a role model, a heroine and we need to celebrate her whether she is alive or not. But we know she is alive because her God in heaven has neither forsaken her of forgotten her.
We call on the whole world to join us in celebrating Leah Sharibu for her bravery, her unshakable faith in Jesus Christ and for standing as a symbol of Christianity”
In a word of exaltation, Mr. Dayo Tella said, “Leah is been celebrated worldwide today because, at her age, she was able to hold on to her faith eve at the point of death. We give it to her mother and her church for raising her the way she is. The girl must have been filled with the Holy Spirit for standing against evil doers and her refusal to give up her faith even at the point of death.
“Only God know why he allow Leah to remain in captivity, it is not that it is beyond God to secure her release”
Tella enjoined Christians to keep praying, “Let keep praying and glorifying God for the life of Leah, because we know Leah will be an instrument of honor at the end. The parents should not weep because they have faith; have faith in God because God is at work. Let’s keep praying, let’s continued to belief in God
He called on the FGN to ensure they do justice for the weak against the strong. He also called on Nigerians to join hands with government to fight the prevailing insecurity across the country.
Another leader of the church, Dr Dan Sumaila said, “It’s not a time to mourn, Nigerian is at a cross road where no one is secured including security agencies, traditional rulers, politicians. Let all Christians emulate Leah not to deny the God that you serve. Let all parents teach their children the way Lear. Let us remain as Christians in words and in action”
