Mother praying for her abducted daughter's safe return

The mother of a girl abducted in northern Nigeria has told the BBC how proud she is of her daughter.

Leah Sharibu was abducted from her school along with 108 other girls in Dapchi in Yobe state in 2018 by suspected Islamist militants. She was 14 at the time.

All the other abducted girls were released after a little over a month, but Leah is still being held captive.

"There was a point we were told that she was dead - then hearing this lady [say] she had seen her gave me some relief," Rebecca Sharibu told the BBC Focus on Africa radio programme.

Leah has reportedly refused to convert to Islam.

"It gives me strength knowing that she did not renounce her faith in Jesus Christ, in Christianity, I get a lot of strength from that," Ms Sharibu said.

The family has been trying to secure her release without success. Ms Sharibu is in London to lobby the UK government to help find her daughter.

Asked what she would say to Leah, Ms Sharibu said:

"I would tell her I am proud of her and the fact she kept her faith.

"We are all praying for her and for her safe return one day."