Nigerian Girls Are Being Kidnapped

In Nigeria, the names parents give their babies often contain a verb, a noun, and an adjective compressed into one word that tells of their family’s faith and history. For Leah Sharibu — a Christian girl born in Nigeria’s Borno State — her name means “woman of worth.” Her parents, Rebecca and Nathan, named her in honor of the biblical matriarch known for her strong faith and resilience and the fulfillment of divine purpose.

When Leah was 14 years old, Boko Haram terrorists kidnapped her and 109 other girls from her school in Dapchi. Mass abductions of girls is a chillingly common tactic of Nigeria’s Islamic terrorists. Boko Haram — which translates to “Western education is forbidden” — drags girls by the hundreds into Nigeria’s vast forests and forces them to convert to Islam and “marry” their captors.

In Nigeria, the names parents give their babies often contain a verb, a noun, and an adjective compressed into one word that tells of their family’s faith and history. For Leah Sharibu — a Christian girl born in Nigeria’s Borno State — her name means “woman of worth.” Her parents, Rebecca and Nathan, named her in honor of the biblical matriarch known for her strong faith and resilience and the fulfillment of divine purpose.

When Leah was 14 years old, Boko Haram terrorists kidnapped her and 109 other girls from her school in Dapchi. Mass abductions of girls is a chillingly common tactic of Nigeria’s Islamic terrorists. Boko Haram — which translates to “Western education is forbidden” — drags girls by the hundreds into Nigeria’s vast forests and forces them to convert to Islam and “marry” their captors.

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About the Author

Maureen Ferguson

Maureen Ferguson was appointed to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Liberty by Speaker Mike Johnson in May of 2024.

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About the Author

Asif Mahmood

Asif Mahmood is a practicing physician, human rights activist, interracial and interfaith community organizer, and philanthropist. He was appointed to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Liberty by Representative Hakeem Jeffries.