The Leah Sharibu Foundation has marked the seventh year of Leah Sharibu's captivity, describing her continued imprisonment as a "national tragedy".

Dr Gloria Puldu, president of the Foundation, made the statement during a press conference in Jos, reflecting on the impact of Leah’s ordeal since her abduction in 2018, as reported by Vanguard.

Sharibu, who was captured along with more than 100 schoolgirls in Dapchi, Yobe, has spent her twenty-second birthday in captivity.

Dr Puldu said: “Today marks her eighth birthday spent away from her family, and it’s a painful reminder of the government’s failure to secure her release.”

Puldu added: "We also call on the National Security Adviser, the Nigerian Armed Forces, and intelligence agencies to prioritise Sharibu’s case in the ongoing security operations."

The Foundation further appealed to the Ministry of Women Affairs and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to provide psychological and emotional support to Leah’s family during this difficult time.

Dr Para Mallar, founder of The Gideon & Funmi Para-Mallam Peace Foundation, has been actively involved in calling for the release of Leah since her abduction.

He told Premier Christian News: "No contact is allowed between Leah and her family.

"Boko Haram has kindly allowed other people to make contact with their families, but very strangely they have never established that kind of contact between Leah and her parents ... and that tells me a lot."