Presidency said on Thursday that a new video released by Boko Haram, showing captives was disturbing and called for urgent action by the relevant security agencies.

It said urgent efforts must be made to secure the release of the captives, including Leah Sharibu and the last of the Dapchi schoolgirls still being held by the terrorist group.

In a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, the Presidency noted that the captives included humanitarian aid workers and a religious leader.

It stated, “The Presidency has been briefed by the responsible government agency about the disturbing video showing our citizens, the humanitarian aid workers held captive.

“Presidency has been given assurances that contact is being made and the captors are being talked to.

“Besides these aid workers, there are some others about whom this engagement is about — Leah Sharibu, a religious leader and all the others.

“These discussions have been ongoing even before this time and what this latest incident has done is to bring urgency to the efforts that the secret service is making.

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“Government is making contacts, in the hope that the captors will see reason to not visit hardship or even harm on these innocent individuals. Government is working.”

The Punchcould not verify the claims made  in the video.

Sharibu was among the 112 girls kidnapped from the Girls Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State by Boko Haram members on February 19, 2018.

Chairman, Chibok Community in Abuja, Mr Tsambido Abana, said he was not aware of Sharibu’s reported death.

A member of #BringBackOurGirls group,  Mrs Aisha Yesufu, also declined comment, saying she could not verify the video.

CAN spokesman, Mr Bayo Oladeji, said the Christian body was trying to verify the claims in the video, adding that he would issue a statement on Friday (Today).

“We have asked our contacts in Maiduguri to find out about Sharibu’s condition and once we have the right information,  I would issue a statement,” he added.

Punch