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
- Pete Greig, founder of 24-7 Prayer, addressed the Wildfires festival calling for prayer regarding national defense.
- Alan Storkey argues that increased military spending conflicts with the Christian call to peace.
- The discussion highlights ongoing tensions between traditional Christian values of peace and national security concerns.
During a recent appearance at the Wildfires festival, Pete Greig, leader of 24-7 Prayer, urged Christians to pray for peace while also calling on the UK Prime Minister to increase defense spending. The remarks sparked debate among believers about how faith communities should respond to growing global instability.
Alan Storkey, a Christian commentator, responded to Greig’s message by questioning whether higher military budgets align with the Gospel’s emphasis on peace. Storkey argues that Christians have a responsibility to seek solutions that reduce conflict rather than prepare for it.
“Prepare for war,” Greig stated during his talk, emphasizing the need for stronger national defense in uncertain times.
Storkey counters that such an approach risks escalating tensions rather than resolving them. He suggests that prayer for wisdom in foreign policy and diplomatic solutions should take precedence over increased military expenditure.
The exchange reflects broader conversations within Christian circles about how believers should engage with issues of war, peace, and government policy. Many traditional Christians continue to wrestle with balancing national security concerns against biblical calls for peacemaking.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Faith Facts
- Samuel Rodriguez is a prominent Hispanic evangelical leader focused on faith, family, and freedom.
- Conservative values emphasize personal responsibility, limited government, and secure borders.
- Latino voters have historically prioritized faith-based principles and traditional American ideals.
Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, warned that Republican candidates could face significant Latino voter abstention during the 2026 midterm elections. He attributes this risk to rising living costs and the Trump administration’s firm immigration policies.
"Hispanic Evangelical leader Samuel Rodriguez believes conservatives could most certainly lose ground with Latino voters in the 2026 midterm elections through what he calls votes of abstention as the community struggles with higher costs of living and the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement."
Rodriguez highlights that many Latino families are feeling financial strain from inflation and everyday expenses. These pressures, combined with strict border enforcement, may lead some voters to stay home on election day.
"Hispanic Evangelical leader Samuel Rodriguez believes conservatives could most certainly lose ground with Latino voters in the 2026 midterm elections through what he calls votes of abstention as the community struggles with higher costs of living and the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement."
While acknowledging the importance of border security, Rodriguez urges Republican leaders to communicate their policies with compassion and clarity to maintain support among faith-minded Latino voters.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Faith Facts
- Scripture warns against false witness and calls believers to defend truth with love and clarity.
- Christian teaching upholds the unique biblical connection of the Jewish people to the land of Israel.
- Faithful Christians are called to stand with Israel and reject rhetoric that distorts history or stirs division.
Former President Barack Obama recently told an audience in Belfast that the Jews “took land off people” and were “excessive.” The remarks drew swift and pointed criticism from Elisha Wiesel, son of the late Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel. Wiesel’s public response highlighted the troubling nature of the former president’s language.
Christians who hold to the authority of Scripture recognize that such statements misrepresent both history and God’s covenant promises. The Bible consistently affirms the Jewish people’s connection to the land of Israel, from Genesis through the prophets.
“It is dangerous for a former president of the United States to use such language,” Elisha Wiesel stated.
The comment comes amid ongoing global debates over Israel’s right to exist and defend itself. Many American believers see these discussions as spiritual as well as political, rooted in the promises recorded in Scripture.
“Words have consequences, especially when spoken by those who once held the highest office in our nation,” Wiesel added.
Faithful Christians are increasingly vocal in their support for Israel and their concern over rhetoric that echoes historic patterns of blame. Standing with the Jewish people remains a matter of biblical conviction for many American believers.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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