The Federal Government says that Leah Sharibu is still alive and will not give up its moves on negotiating for her release.
Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the Buhari administration was still in talks with her captors in the hope that she would be released soon.
Speaking to a group of journalists on Saturday in Abuja, Shehu said: ‘‘Instead of giving up, the government is carrying forward processes that should hopefully yield her release by her captors.”
The presidential spokesman was responding to speculation on whether Leah Sharibu, the kidnapped Dapchi school girl had been harmed by her abductors.
He told reporters emphatically that much of what is written about the girl in the press is false.
“Lines of communications remain open with the kidnappers, ISWAP, to secure the release of Leah Sharibu,” he said.
“Contrary to false reports, she is alive – given assurances from our security agencies and the government is committed to her safe return, as well as all other hostages to their families.
“Kidnapping for ransom should never be encouraged. This means not capitulating to the demands of terrorists: refrain from rewarding their heinous crimes with payment,” he said.
Leah Sharibu, the student of Government Girls Science and Technical Secondary School, Dapchi, was kidnapped by a faction of Boko Haram terrorists in February 2018.