Why Nigerian Army Declared Journalist Sakilda, Others Wanted

Ahmed Salkida

 

The Nigerian Army has explained why it declared a Nigerian journalist, Ahmed Salkida, Ahmed U. Bolori and Aisha Wakil wanted.

 

The army said they were declared wanted because of their alleged link with the terror group, Boko Haram.

 

Speaking further on this, Sani Usman, the Acting Director Army Public Relations, in a press statement issued on Sunday said: “There is no doubt that these individuals have links with Boko Haram Terrorists and have contacts with them.

“They must therefore come forward and tell us where the group is keeping the Chibok Girls and other abducted persons to enable us rescue them."

 

The army says it was relying on relevant laws of the country, especially the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011 to declare the two men and the lady wanted in connection with Boko Haram.

“We are therefore calling on all Nigerians and peace loving people to give us useful information on their whereabouts. We are also liaising with other security agencies for their arrest if they failed to turn up,” the statement said.

 

Mr. Sakilda is known for his access to the extremist sect while Ms. Wakil, a lawyer, was in contact with the Nigerian government during the 2013 amnesty negotiations with the Boko Haram insurgents.

 

She is believed to have met with former President Goodluck Jonathan at the time as part of the negotiation, which later broke down.

 

Mr. Bolori is known as coordinator of the Fa’ash Foundation and the Partnership Against Violent Extremism (Pave). He lives in Maiduguri, Boko Haram’s birthplace and the epicentre of its insurgency. He witnessed the rise of the terror group, which turned violent in 2009.

 

The army went after Sakilda after he said on Twitter that the video was sent exclusively to him before the sect uploaded it to YouTube. Boko Haram had said in the video that it would only negotiate with the Nigerian government through journalists known to be close to it.