The special adviser to the President Muhamamdu Buhari on media and publicity, has spoken out on when Leah Sharibu, will be rescued as he reacts on the leaked tape.
TORI News
reported on Monday that in a leaked tape released online, Leah Sharibu, the only Christian among the abducted 119 students of GSS Dapchi in Yobe state, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to save her from captivity.
In a swift reaction to the viral news, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said only God knows when Leah Sharibu, who was held back by her captors for “refusing to renounce her faith”, will be rescued.
While speaking during a Channels TV programme on Tuesday, the presidential adviser who was asked to give a time-frame for Sharibu’s rescue, said God is the sole determinant of her return.
Adesina said; “For how much longer, I think that question can only be answered by God. I believe that God is interested in that young girl and will ensure that she is preserved.
“I think when that clip that we have is verified, at least one will be sure that it’s her and when that is determined, we should all be glad that she is alive.
“When will she return? By the grace of God, the government is working on it and we believe she will be back.”
Leah in Boko Haram captivity
Adesina said President Muhammadu Buhari had made a commitment to do anything to rescue the kidnapped girls even if it means paying for their release.
“One thing we should always remember, as Nigerians, is that early in the life of this administration, then it was Chibok girls, the president said that whatever it will take to get the girls back including paying, he would do. It’s on record,” Adesina said.
The presidential spokesman however denied reports that the government paid a ransom for the release of the other 110 girls.
“That is not confirming that there was payment on Dapchi because the then DG of DSS was categorical the day the girls were brought back and it was in public glare that no a dime was paid for Dapchi girls. On Dapchi, there was no payment,” he said.
According to Adesina, reaching out to the Sharibu family is not “a presidency matter”.
“I expect that the Yobe state government is doing that. In Nigeria, they expect the presidency to do everything,” he added.