Nigerian town awaits release of Christian girl held by Boko Haram

AFP, March 25, 2018 –  Residents of the Nigerian town of Dapchi were hoping Sunday for the release of the last schoolgirl, who is also a Christian, from among a group of more than 100 kidnapped and released by Islamists, following encouraging indications from authorities.
Her freed schoolmates said the girl, Leah Sharibu, remained in captivity as she had refused to convert to Islam.
“There is so much expectation in the town following the news that the last remaining girl will be released,” Kachalla Bukar, father of one of the schoolgirls recently freed, told AFP late Saturday by phone from the town in the northeastern state of Yobe.
The authorities had asked shopkeepers to close Saturday afternoon in anticipation of her arrival.
National police chief Ibrahim Idris told reporters Saturday in Maiduguri, capital of neighbouring Borno State, the girl “may be released today”.
The police “reiterates that it has no information yet on the release of the last Dapchi schoolgirl,” he said.
In all, 105 of the 111 schoolgirls abducted on February 19 from their boarding school in Dapchi were released on Wednesday, raising questions about possible ransom payments.
They were brought back by members of the Boko Haram jihadist group in nine