The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has expressed the belief that abducted schoolgirl, Leah Sharibu is still alive.
CAN expressed this against the anxiety greeting a statement by an aid worker, Grace Taku, that Leah had been killed by the Book Haram.
Taku spoke from the custody of kidnappers holding her alongside five other people.
But CAN noted on Friday that Leah was still alive but called on the Federal Government to rescue her, Taku and others in trap.
The President of CAN, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, made the call in a statement signed by Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, the Special Assistant, Media and Communications to the CAN President, in Abuja.
Ayokunle said the primary duty of any government was the security of lives and property of the citizens, adding that any government that failed to guarantee the responsibility might lose the confidence of the people.
He said CAN members had watched a video from Boko Haram terrorists’ camp where Grace Taku, an aide worker of Action for Hunger appealed to the Federal Government, CAN, and other well-meaning people to secure her freedom and five other victims.
”Boko Haram sect sometimes in April this year reportedly kidnapped a National Youth Service Corps member, Abraham Amuta and a cleric with Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), identified as Pastor Moses Oyeleke in Borno State.
”We have not heard anything about their whereabouts.
”We have heard the prompt response made by the Federal government to the Save-Our-Soul cry of Grace and we join her in calling on President Muhammadu Buhari and the security agencies,
”We also call, most especially, the Department of State Security to secure her freedom and that of Leah Sharibu,” he said.
Ayokunle said Grace Taku had cried out on behalf of other hostages like Amuta and Oyeleke.
”We urge the Federal Government to expedite action toward the captives’ release, as in that of Dapchi girls except Leah Sharibu.
”We believe strongly that Leah Sharibu is still alive, hale and hearty and she will and others must be set free from captivity. Enough of paying lips service to the menace of security challenges in the country.
”We have been calling for a total overhauling of the security apparatus of the country, and we have also asked the developed nations to assist Nigeria in combating the challenges before the country becomes unbearable.
”We call on well-meaning people and agencies to join CAN in pleading with our government and the security agencies to wake up and do the needful before it will be too late.
”Our prayer is that the awesome God will come to the aid of this country. He will free all the captives and comfort all the bereaved of the killings in the country, ” he said.
