SCOAN, Leah Sharibu and spate of insecurity

It was a most emotional moment when few days back representatives of Chibok in Borno and Dapchi in Yobe on Sunday sought spiritual help at The Synagogue Church of All Nations, at Ikotun-Egbe, Lagos to pray for the release of Leah Sharibu and other students kidnapped by Boko Haram.

In what was obviously a cry for God’s supernatural intervention, the representatives who carried several placards told the General Overseer, Prophet Temitope Joshua, that they were at The Synagogue because they had exhausted all human efforts to get the students released.

Yunana Sharibu, a spokesman of the representatives who also doubles as the uncle of the abducted Dapchi schoolgirl, Leah Sharibu told Prophet Joshua and the congregation that the father of Leah Sharibu, Nathaniel Sharibu could not come with them because he had been bedridden by stroke, as a result of the kidnap of her daughter.

He said they had been watching his ministry through Emmanuel Television (the church’s cable TV) and all the help he had rendered to the sick and the less privileged, hence their joint visit to plead for intercessory prayers for the release of the students.

BREAKING: Tribunal removes Onnoghen as CJN, NJC boss, to forfeit…

The spokesman said they had no doubt that with the approval of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God could trigger the release of the remaining students kidnapped in 2014 and 2018.

“I was sent by Leah’s father from Adamawa State. This girl was abducted alongside other school girls at Dapchi since 2018. The father is not here because he is traumatised. The mother also. I am his elder brother. We want you to pray for us; we have gone to many places to look for help but could not get it. We heard about you, that is why we came for your assistance and help. Leah Sharibu has been in captivity since April 19, 2018. There were 119 schoolgirls in Dapchi that were kidnapped. They were released with the exception of Leah. We have travelled to many places in search of getting this girl back but all failed. We heard about Emmanuel TV and came along with the parents of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls,” he said.

In the same vein, Yakubu Nkeki, chairman of Abducted Chibok Girls’ Parents, from Borno State, also pleaded for prophet Joshua’s intervention in the release of both the Dapchi and Chibok girls still in captivity.

According to him, “Please help us sir. The pictures of the girls I am holding with me are the 112 Chibok girls that are yet to be released in the hand of captors. We have gone to so many places seeking for solution but there was no answer. We heard from many people that there is a Prophet T.B. Joshua in Lagos that is delivering people from all over the nations. That is why we from Chibok, on behalf of the 112 parents, whose daughters have not yet been released came to seek for solution. Help us to pray so that the 112 girls in the hands of the captors might be released. We believe that God will intervene and bring them safely home.”

He continued further “initially they were 276 girls abducted from Chibok. In the process of negotiation, the government was able to rescue 113 girls. We know that the government has tried its best. Soldiers have tried their best. Many soldiers have lost their lives in the process of rescuing these poor girls from the hands of captors. We, the Chibok girls’ parents, appreciate the effort of the government but there still remain 112 girls we have not received any credible information about them. We have been looking for solutions. I, personally, have been to different countries: Germany, South Africa and many others. We have heard that Prophet Joshua has been used by God to deliver people. This is what made us come to represent the parents of the 112 girls from Chibok and pray over these girls. By April 14, 2019, these girls will be exactly five years in the hands of their captors. We do not know the condition they are in now. Due to the pain of losing these girls, 34 parents also died. They refused to eat or drink. They were traumatised. We believe that coming here, the girls will be released.”

Another parent of one of the abducted Chibok girls who simply introduced herself as Yana Galang stated that “My daughter, Rifkatu Galang, was one of the Chibok girls kidnapped by terrorists. She is still with them. I don’t know where she is; I don’t know her condition. I don’t know if she is eating or drinking. But I know that as we have come here, God will intervene. I know that they will be released very soon by the grace of God.” Prophet Joshua told them that there was nothing impossible in the sight of the creator of heaven and earth.

He urged the congregation and viewers of Emmanuel Television worldwide to pray and fast on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, this week, for the release of the remaining students.

“I want you to stand up and promise that this coming week-Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday-you have to be in an attitude of prayer with all your heart, pray and fast. Viewers all over the world must do this. Pray for these children. Pray for the other children and Leah as well. Your prayer should be for release. I am carrying all of you and the viewers all over the world along. I will lead you. After you have done that , I know. Lift up your voice and say ‘Oh Lord, whatever sin they might have committed, their families, wherever, whatever-your mercy! Have mercy on us! We ask for your mercy-mercy of release in Jesus Christ’s name

It will be recalled that on April 14, 2014, 276 female students were kidnapped from the Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State. Responsibility for the kidnappings was claimed by Boko Haram, an extremist terrorist organisation based in northeastern Nigeria. Since 2014, 164 of the students had regained their freedom, while 112 are still held by Boko Haram.

Also on February 19, 2018, no fewer than 110 schoolgirls were kidnapped by the Boko Haram terrorist group from the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College (GGSTC), Dapchi, located in Bulabulin, Yunusari Local Government area of Yobe State. One hundred and nine of the students were released, except Leah Sharibu, who was said to have refused to denounce Christianity.

It is a painful reality that from many sections of the country, the spate of insecurity has assumed a troubling dimension. When human efforts fail, it is only expected to turn to the divine for assistance. All stakeholders must keep hope alive that, according to the man of God, ‘the best is yet to come.’

Oyetimi writes via joyetimi2002@gmail.com