News
One Girl Remains: The Eight-Year Captivity That Shames the World
Faith Facts
- Leah Sharibu, now 22, has been held captive by Islamic extremists for eight years after refusing to renounce her Christian faith
- She was kidnapped at age 14 from a girls’ school in Nigeria’s Yobe state on February 19, 2018, along with 109 other students
- All other captives have been released, but Leah remains imprisoned solely because she will not deny Christ
The ongoing captivity of a young Christian woman in Nigeria stands as a powerful testament to faith under fire—and a damning indictment of international indifference to religious persecution. Leah Sharibu was just 14 years old when Islamic extremists stormed her school and took her, along with more than 100 other girls, into a nightmare that continues to this day.
Eight years have passed since that terrible February night in 2018. Every one of the 109 other girls kidnapped from the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College in Dapchi has been released. But Leah Sharibu remains in captivity—not because she was forgotten in negotiations, but because she made a choice that honors God above all else.
The young woman refused to renounce her Christian faith. While her Muslim classmates were allowed to return home, Leah stood firm in her belief in Jesus Christ, even when it meant continued imprisonment, abuse, and separation from her family. Her courage has made her a symbol of Christian perseverance under persecution.
Now 22 years old, Leah has spent more than a third of her life in the hands of Boko Haram terrorists. Reports indicate she has been forced into marriage and has borne children in captivity. Her mother, Rebecca Sharibu, continues to plead for her daughter’s release, keeping Leah’s plight before the public eye despite years of disappointment.
Nigerian officials face mounting pressure to address what human rights advocates are calling a “horrifying” ordeal that represents the broader crisis facing Christian women and girls across the African nation. The targeting of Christian communities by Islamic extremist groups has created a humanitarian catastrophe that demands immediate international attention.
Nigeria has become one of the most dangerous places on earth to be a Christian. Thousands have been killed in recent years, with women and girls particularly vulnerable to kidnapping, forced conversion, and forced marriage to their captors. Leah Sharibu’s case is not isolated—it is emblematic of a systematic campaign of religious persecution.
The lack of decisive action from Nigerian authorities and the muted response from Western governments raises troubling questions about the value placed on Christian lives in the international community. Where is the outrage? Where are the sanctions, the diplomatic pressure, the military assistance that might bring this young woman home?
Leah’s steadfast faith challenges believers everywhere. At an age when most young women are finishing college, starting careers, and building their own families in freedom, she endures captivity rather than deny her Savior. Her witness speaks to the reality of Christian persecution in our time—a reality too often ignored by media and political leaders who should know better.
The Sharibu family deserves answers. They deserve action. Most of all, Leah deserves her freedom. Nigerian officials must be held accountable for their failure to secure the release of a young woman whose only “crime” was refusing to betray her faith.
As American Christians, we have a responsibility to advocate for our persecuted brothers and sisters worldwide. Leah Sharibu’s name should be on our lips in prayer daily. Her captivity should move us to pressure our own government to make religious freedom a non-negotiable priority in foreign policy.
Eight years is far too long. Every day Leah remains in captivity is another day that justice is denied and faith is tested. May God protect her, strengthen her, and ultimately deliver her from the hands of those who seek to break her spirit.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Faith Facts
- Parents bear the God-given responsibility to raise and guide their children in truth.
- Transparency in education upholds the biblical principle of parental authority.
- Protecting innocence and guarding minds aligns with Christian teachings on wisdom and discernment.
When a Colorado mother’s 12-year-old came home in tears from what she thought was an art club, she learned how little parents sometimes know about what happens at school. Her story is a warning, and a call for parents to speak up.
The incident highlights a growing concern among families who value traditional parental rights. When schools withhold information, they undermine the trust placed in them by the community.
Scripture reminds believers that children are a heritage from the Lord, and raising them requires vigilance and involvement.
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Many parents across the nation share similar experiences where curriculum details remain hidden. These situations have prompted renewed calls for greater accountability and openness in public education.
Faith communities emphasize the importance of protecting young hearts and minds from content that conflicts with biblical values. Open dialogue between schools and families helps ensure children are nurtured in environments consistent with their upbringing.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Faith Facts
- The Protestant Reformation began on October 31, 1517, when Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the Wittenberg church door.
- Christian leader Doug Phillips resigned from Vision Forum Ministries on October 30, 2013, citing moral failure.
- Ethiopian Orthodox Church leader Abuna Salama III died on October 25, 1847, after decades of faithful service.
October has long been a month when Christians pause to remember pivotal moments that shaped both the church and the culture. This week marks three significant anniversaries that continue to speak to believers who cherish the authority of Scripture and the defense of the family.
Five centuries ago, Martin Luther’s bold stand against doctrinal error sparked a movement that would restore the gospel to millions and lay the foundation for the freedoms Americans still enjoy today. The Protestant Reformation reminds every generation that Scripture alone is the final authority and that no earthly institution stands above the Word of God.
Ten years ago, Doug Phillips resigned from Vision Forum Ministries after confessing to a “lengthy, inappropriate relationship.” Vision Forum had been known for its strong emphasis on biblical patriarchy and large-family living, making the resignation a sobering reminder that leaders are held to a higher standard.
“I have repented, and I am seeking the counsel of my brothers in Christ,” Phillips stated at the time, acknowledging the damage done to his family and to the broader Christian community.
More than a century and a half earlier, Ethiopian Orthodox leader Abuna Salama III passed into eternity after guiding his flock through years of political upheaval. His death on October 25, 1847, closed a chapter of steadfast witness in a land where the gospel had taken root centuries before the Reformation.
Each of these events underscores the same timeless truth: the church advances when ordinary believers cling to Scripture, guard their households, and refuse to compromise with the spirit of the age.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Faith Facts
- Six Christians were killed while mourning a loved one at a Greek Orthodox church in Jordan.
- The attack took place in a nation long praised for its peace between faiths.
- Twenty-eight believers were also wounded in the gunfire.
In a rare attack in a country known for peaceful inter-faith coexistence, suspected armed Islamic extremists attacked a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Jordan on Friday (Oct. 23), killing at least six people and wounding 28 others, according to reports.
The violence struck worshipers gathered to honor the dead, turning a sacred moment of grief into one of terror.
Local authorities have not released the names of the victims, but the community is already mourning its loss.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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