The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) together with the Association of Evangelicals in Africa (AEA) and the Nigeria Evangelical Fellowship (NEF) has called for prayer for Leah Sharibu, a Christian girl who has been held hostage by Boko Haram since the beginning of the year.

They also urge the Nigerian government and the international community to increase their efforts to ensure that she will be freed as soon as possible.

Leah was one of 112 female students abducted from a high school in Dapchi, Yobe State, on February 19. Most of the girls, all Muslims, were released on March 21 following negotiations with the Nigerian government, but five of them died. Leah is the only girl remaining in captivity for almost nine months now because she refused to renounce her Christian faith and convert to Islam.

More recently, Boko Haram has executed two humanitarian aid workers and vowed that Leah would be a slave for life. Another Christian woman, Alice Ngaddah, who works with the International Committee of the Red Cross was also captured and will face the same fate as Leah, according to the group.

Bishop Efraim Tendero, WEA secretary general, said: 'Leah is a 15-year-old girl who could have saved her life by converting to Islam, but chose not to renounce her faith in Jesus Christ. Instead – and at the expense of her freedom – she remained strong in her faith and her relationship with Jesus, which serves as an inspiration and role model for all of us. Please join us in prayer for Leah and Alice that they will gain strength, comfort and assurance that they are in the good hands of our God.'

He further said that 'as a global body of Christians, we condemn the evil practices of kidnapping innocent girls and humanitarian aid workers, forceful conversion to the faith of captors and forcing them into slavery, and the ruthless killing of hostages. On behalf of our world body we offer our prayers and heart-felt condolences to the families of those who have been killed. And today, we specifically appeal for the immediate release of Leah and Alice that they would be free to live out their lives as they choose.'

Commenting on the Christian response to such tragedy that has been on the rise in several parts of the continent, Rev Dr Aiah Foday-Khabenje, general secretary of the Nairobi-based Association of Evangelicals in Africa, said: 'We affirm the dignity and image of God in all humans, as taught by the Christian Scripture. This requires our unconditional obedience to love all people as we do ourselves. We cannot demonstrate God's love better than calling fallen humanity, dipped in sin, to repentance and be reconciled with God through Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Not all may believe and accept this offer but this is the non-threatening message and indeed Good News to our world.'

The organisations also called on the government of Nigeria to invest more efforts and resources to free Leah Sharibu, Alice Ngaddah and other hostages, and to put an end to the violence of Boko Haram.