Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last made representations to the government of Nigeria about the abduction of Leah Sharibu; and what response they received.

The UK Government has repeatedly called for the release of all those abducted by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa, including Leah Sharibu. We welcomed President Buhari's statement in February, reiterating his Government's commitment to bring Leah home safely. We will continue to engage with the Government of Nigeria in support of urgent action to secure the return of Leah Sharibu and all abductees.

We regularly raise the issues of insecurity and terrorism in Nigeria and at the highest levels of the Nigerian Government. The Prime Minister discussed UK support for fighting terrorism in Nigeria with President Buhari at the UK Africa Investment Summit in January. The Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), Rehman Chishti MP, met with the then Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria in January 2020 to discuss FoRB matters covering Nigeria, which had been raised with him by parliamentarians, and NGOs. In February, Rehman Chishti MP also met Leah's mother to express the UK's continued commitment to help Nigeria secure the release of all abductees.