Exactly two years ago, February 19th, 2018, the Boko Haram terrorist group invaded Government Girls Science and Technical College (GGSTC), Dapchi, Yobe State and kidnapped 110 school girls according to many media reports, including The Vanguard.
A month later, 104 out of the 110 abducted Dapchi girls regained their freedom.
According to The Vanguard of March 22nd, 2018, “There was wild jubilation in Dapchi, as 104 of the 110 schoolgirls abducted by the terrorist group were released by the insurgents and returned home safely. The insurgents, believed to be the Mamman Nur-led faction, transported the girls back to Dapchi in the early hours of yesterday in about nine vehicles.”
What happened to the remaining 6?
The newspaper, in a report, headlined, ‘Dapchi girls: 5 of our students died on day of attack’, quoted one of the released girls, Fasima, saying, “Unfortunately, five of us could not make it as they were confirmed dead on arrival at their hideouts due to suffocation in the vehicle that conveyed their batch.”
The Vanguard and other Nigeria media observed criminal silence about the religious persuasions of the five girls who died in Boko Haram custody because they were Muslims but quickly diverted attention to the last of the 6, Leah Sharibu, who according to The Vanguard, “refused to denounce Christianity”.
The mainstream Nigerian media as usual, in their hypocritical character, would have thrown caution to the wind with their one-sided reportage to tarnish the image of Islam if any of the five dead Dapchi girls was a Christian. But it is all okay, since they were Muslims, as they quickly set another agenda, embarking on campaign to free Leah Sharibu and vilify Islam, even when the Boko Haram go against the tenets of the religion it claims to profess.
Besides, advocating for the release of many Christian ladies among the remaining Chibok girls kidnapped by the same Boko Haram terrorist group became irrelevant since calling attention to their freedom will equally mean freedom for other Muslim girls in captivity kidnapped since the Goodluck Jonathan era.
The media did not even bother to look for or speak with the parents of the Dapchi girls who lost their lives. Evidently, Fasima who narrated their ordeal in the custody of the Boko Haram mentioned the names of two of her colleagues who died as Aisha and Maimuna, according to Vanguard.
However, the newspaper and other Nigerian media buried it and chose to focus on Leah Sharibu.
So, the next move from The Vanguard was to interview Leah’s father, Sharibu, who said, “I’m happy my daughter didn’t denounce Christ”, published on March 21st, 2018.
Since her abduction two years ago, Leah Sharibu has been severally reported dead in the same compromised media, first in February, and in August, 2019 before they were later denied to be false by the Federal Government and other interested persons including human rights bodies.
For instance, “Leah Sharibu not dead, still alive – Lai Mohammed” in February 2018 while, in August 2018, ‘Leah Sharibu is alive – Presidency” as reported by Vanguard.
From religious propaganda to allegations of fraud, the Leah Sharibu story suddenly becomes a big business venture for the major players. At a point, Nigerians accused former Presidential media aide, Reno Omokri, of making money with Leah Sharibu’s name. In fact, a financial consultant, Henry Claudius specifically said Reno diverted funds meant for the family of the abducted Dapchi schoolgirl, Leah Sharibu but he denied it.
The latest gist about Leah Sharibu giving birth to one of the Boko Haram leaders’ child was a breaking news for Vanguard in January 2020, with the screaming headline:
“Breaking: Nigerians fume, condemn Leah Sharibu’s news of giving birth”.
Pundits however quickly observed that, Leah, who has been painted as brave and heroic for her refusal to deny Christ two years ago now accepted, whether by force or not, the devil incarnate to have sex with her, to the extent that, she got pregnant and even gave birth to a bouncing baby girl for a terrorist. Nigerian media with wicked lies!
Pathetically, the gullible and desperate Northern CAN and other Nigerians believe the news hook, line and sinker despite coming from unconfirmed sources. In fact, The Vanguard quoted Rev. Yakubu Pam, the Chairman of CAN in the 19 Northern States and the FCT, saying:
“Release Leah Sharibu with or without baby – Northern CAN tells FG”.
Till the date, the story is yet to be confirmed to be true. It was all propaganda.
The media wickedness also came to the front burner, with their criminal silence, when two Muslim health workers (ladies) who were assisting the displaced, the homeless and the refugees were gruesomely murdered, yet they cried to high heavens when the Christian among them was allegedly given a choice to adopt Islam and be saved!
So, who is fooling who? If being a Muslim saves one from the Boko Haram’s clutches of death, why were the two Muslim ladies murdered in the first instance?
May Allah grant eternal succour and forgiveness to the five Dapchi girls, the two Muslim Humanitarian officials (Saifura Ahmed and Hauwa Liman) and other victims of Boko Haram since they started their unfortunate insurgency and abductions about a decade ago. And may He grant their families, relatives and the entire nation the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
May Allah cause Leah Sharibu and other victims still in captivity of the terrorist groups to be freed unharmed. And may He, in no distant period, decimate, disgrace and humiliate the Boko Haram group, all their collaborators as well as their co- conspirators in whatever guise, wherever they may be.
By Rasheed Abubakar,
Publisher Muslim News Nigeria
