18/05/2020 Nigeria (International Christian Concern) – Last Thursday, May 14, was Leah Sharibu’s 17th birthday. Leah is the lone remaining schoolgirl in captivity from the town of Dapchi, where more than 100 girls were taken from the Government Girls Science and Technical School by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) faction of Boko Haram. Since that time, several rumors have arisen of Leah being killed, being married to a Boko Haram Fighter and giving birth to a child. None of these rumors have yet been confirmed, though she is confirmed still alive. Leah was taken when she was just 14 years old, and has spent the past three birthdays with her abductors. She has not been allowed any access to family or friends. She has likely been forced to learn Islamic rules and Arabic as the groups tries to force her to change to their beliefs. They have also likely used physical torment and mental attacks to try and break her faith in Christ. These kinds of tactics, to include beatings, brainwashing, drugging and sexual abuse have been commonly reported from women who have escaped Boko Haram captivity.
Persecution of Christians Part 8
