Leah in a picture released by Boko Haram

While the presidency is still waiting on the intelligence agencies for confirmation, the parents of parents of Leah Sharibu, the only Christian girl still being held captive by Boko Haram insurgents among those abducted at the Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, have confirmed that the voice in an audio message widely circulated on Monday was indeed that of their daughter.

The audio message was published yesterday by “The Cable”  newspaper with her recent picture in which she is wearing a brown hijab and sitting on a mat.

In the audio, the girl spoke in Hausa which was traslated thus: “I am Leah Sharibu, the girl that was abducted in GGSS Dapchi. I am calling on the government and people of goodwill to intervene to get me out of my current situation.

“I also plead to the members of the public to help my mother, my father, my younger brother and relatives. Kindly help me out of my predicament. 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. Thank you.”

The Yobe State correspodent of  The Nation newspaper said the parents of Leah to confirm the veracity of the voice during a phone call to them.

“I can confirm to you that the voice that spoke is that of my daughter Leah. It is her voice, no doubt. I am happy that I can hear my daughter speak. This has given me hope that she is alive. I am also happy to see her recent picture displayed,” the reporter quoted the father as saying.

“My request is the same with my daughter’s. The government should play their part now by intensifying efforts to secure her freedom.,” Sharibu said.

“The mother’s hope never died, though it has now doubled. She will however become happier the day her daughter is freed.

The reporter also quoted the monther, Mrs Sharibuas calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to take all the actions necessary to free her daughter, while also calling on her daughter’s abductors to unconditionally free her.

The Presidency had yesterday said that President Buhari would not rest until the release of Leah.

Leah Sharibu was held back by the terrorists for refusing to renounce her faith.

But, in a tweet on Monday, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said “We are aware of the audio in circulation concerning the unfortunate situation of our daughter, Leah Sharibu. In dealing with terrorists, nothing is too trivial.

“The secret service is analysing the voice. Our reaction will follow the outcome of the investigation.

“For President Buhari, nothing will be spared in bringing all our girls home. He will not rest until all of them are freed,” he said.