The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Borno state chapter has organised a special prayers for the 116 Chibok schoolgirls and Miss Leah Sharibu, the abducted GGTC Dapchi schoolgirl, still under the captivity of the Boko Haram terrorists.
The special Easter prayer service was held Monday at the CAN headquarters, Jerusalem, Maiduguri for Leah Sharibu, the only Dapchi schoolgirl believed to be held by the Boko Haram faction formerly led by Abu Mus’ab Al-Barnawi, and over 112 Chibok schoolgirls also held by Abubakar Shekau’s group since 2014.
Borno state CAN chairman, Bishop Mohammed Naga,said Christians in the state would not lose hope in the efforts to release the abducted girls and all persons kidnapped by Boko Haram, irrespective of faith.
“We know many Nigerians have lost hope about these girls. We are in despair and think they may not come back again but with God, nothing shall be impossible,” Naga said.
Delivering a sermon entitled “The Glory of His Resurrection,” Rev Abel Ikeji of Assemblies of God Mission, Maiduguri, called on Christians to emulate the virtue of Christ by walking in righteousness.
He also urged civil servants, politicians, pastors and church leaders to shun corruption and have fear of God in all their dealings.
“Any pastor who uses tricks to collect money from members using the name of God and stealing or embezzling church money is not of Christ and has crucified Christ the second time,” Abel said.
The Boko Haram insurgents had abducted 110 school girls between the ages of 11 and 19 at the Government Science and Technical Secondary School, Dapchi, Yobe state on February 19, 2018.
A total of 104 girls were later released by the insurgents a month later following intense negotiations by an international group while some of the freed girls said five out of the 110 abducted died on the day of the abduction as they were being whisked away in the desert.
The insurgents are still holding unto Leah Sharibu, the only Christian among the girls, for allegedly refusing to convert to Islam while a total of 276 school girls were kidnapped by Boko Haram custody in their school dormitory on April 14, 2014.
