How British MP Tom Brake takes solo protest to Nigerian High Commission in UK for release of Leah Sharibu

Nigerian High Commission in the UK on Tuesday witnessed a solo protest by member of Parliament of the United Kingdom, Tom Brake who protested against the illegal detention of Leah Sharibu who is being held in Boko Haram captivity for 199 days today and counting, for refusing to recant her Christian faith

NUJ Europe learnt that Brake held the solo protest in front of the Nigerian High Commission in the UK to bring attention of the embassy to the #FreeLeah campaign. Brake is calling on the Nigerian government to as a matter of immediacy see to it that Leah is released.

“Outside the Nigerian High Commission launching the #freeleah campaign. Leah, who is still held captive by Boko Haram, because she refused to recant her Christian faith, has been held for 198 days,” he tweeted.

Last week, Leah Sharibu, the only Christian among the abducted 119 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Dapchi, Yobe state, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to save her from captivity. Leah, who was kidnapped in February, also appealed that her family members be assisted.

CNN also reported rbat kidnapped Dapchi schoolgirl Leah Sharibu, who has been held by the Boko Haram terror group since February, has pleaded for her freedom in newly-released audio.

Sharibu, 15, is being held by a faction of Boko Haram after she reportedly refused to renounce her Christian faith.

Most of the students abducted from their boarding school in Dapchi village, Yobe State, February 19, were released after four weeks.

'She refused to convert to Islam,' 85 days on, kidnapped schoolgirl Leah Sharibu remains in captivity

"I am Leah Sharibu, the girl that was abducted from Government Girls Science Technical College, Dapchi. I am calling on government and people of goodwill to get me out of this problem," she says in the audio in her native Hausa language.

"I am begging you to treat me with compassion, I am calling on the government, particularly, the president, to pity me and get me out of this serious situation."

Her father, Sharibu Nathan confirmed to CNN that it was his daughter speaking on the audio. He added that he was happy to hear her voice.

"I thought she might have been killed since we were told by those released that Boko Haram kept her because she is a Christian. I can only imagine the way they would have treated her," Nathan said.

Nathan said he is hopeful that the recording, obtained by a local journalist, will redouble efforts to free her.

All the girls who were captured were subsequently released, except five who reportedly died in detention, but Sharibu was held back for “refusing to renounce her faith”.

The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a breakaway faction of Boko Haram, has kept her in captivity for seven months, sparking public outrage.