Leah Shaibu
By M. Peter – Jos
A Plateau State-born Jennifer Samuel who was abducted last December by members of the Boko Haram sect in Maiduguri, Borno State and recently released to reunite with her family in Jos has said she met with Alice, another abductee of the sect.
Alice like Jennifer was abducted by members of the sect about two years ago and has been in captivity since then but Jennifer said though she did not meet Leah Sharibu and Grace Taku (other abductees), Alice told her that Grace and Leah are alive and fine in the forest.
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While speaking about what transpired in the forest, Jennifer stated, “They (abductors) were trying to prepare us in case they didn’t release us, we are going to be their slaves and they will be sexual involvements and all that but they were trying to play with us psychologically, trying to tell us in the Koran that if you abduct someone to be your slave, you can have such privileges with the person.
“They were telling us that Islam is the religion that God bless and we will lose if we don’t convert to be Muslims. When they released us, they told us that we were going that God does not want us to stay there, at first they were telling us to convert to Islam or be their slaves but later they can decide to release us because it is part of their rules and it is in the Koran so when they told us they are going to free us since God doesn’t want us to stay there.
“When the news came, it was up to five days before they released us so we were just praying that God should intervene. Five of us were released, two females and two males, others are still in captivity. I actually met Alice that was abducted two years ago, all of them need our prayers earnestly. We need to stand and pray for them; it is only God that can do it.
“Alice is Okay but she said she has accepted her fate since she has stayed there for two years and she said Grace and Leah are fine. I didn’t see Leah but Alice said she is OK. I only saw Alice.”
Speaking about going back to her work as an humanitarian worker, she added, “I think this is just an obstacle, a stepping stone; there are people who need our help that is why we are on this earth. God wants us to help, we should do good at all times so being in the humanitarian work is not the reason I was abducted so I will go back to work as soon as I feel relieved.”
A family thanksgiving service had been held to thank God her release.
Leah has spent a year with her abductors, the Boko Haram sect.
