THE National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Samson Ayokunle has charged the Muhammadu Buhari administration to quicken up efforts at securing the release of Leah Sharibu, the remaining Chibok Schoolgirls, and others being held captive by Boko Haram.

Speaking during a visit to Adamawa state to commiserate with the Christian community over recent attacks in the area, Ayokunle urged the president to translate his promises to actions and rescue the captives without any further delay.

“Time is of the essence, every minute those people are spending in captivity matters so much. We don’t need to delay or hesitate any longer,” Channels Television quoted Ayokunle as saying.

“We are glad that the President is still making promises, but let it be transformed into action. We want to see them back very soon.”

“Our hearts are becoming sick; we have been hopeful. It is a government that is empowered to do work and they have everything it takes in order to know where these people are to get them out.

Nathan Sharibu, Leah’s father, who also spoke at the event, expressed disappointment that his daughter is still in captivity despite the numerous assurances given to them by President Buhari.

“I’m disappointed in the federal government because the president has called my wife several times and promised that he is doing his possible best to see that my daughter has been released,” Sharibu said.

“He sent some ministers to my house to encourage us that our daughter will be coming back very soon, but till now, we haven’t seen her.”

Leah Sharibu was the only one out of the 110 schoolgirls abducted from their school in Dapchi, Yobe State, in February 2018. The others were released a month later following a deal between the federal government and Boko Haram, but Leah was detained because, according to her colleagues that were released, she refused to convert to Islam.

Similarly, 112 Chibok schoolgirls are still in Boko Haram captivity, five years after their abduction on April 14, 2014. A total of 219 girls were abducted that night, but so far 107 of them have either been released or escaped from captivity and has since been reunited with their families.

President Buhari issued a statement on the fifth anniversary of the Chibok Girls abduction, reiterating his administration’s resolve to rescue the remaining girls alongside Leah Sharibu and others that are still being held.